MARK Hughes has called on his players to stop giving themselves mountains to climb as Rovers were knocked out of the Carling Cup after extra-time by Arsenal on Tuesday night.

In almost a repeat of Wigan at the weekend, it was a first half to forget as Rovers quickly found themselves two goals down, but Roque Santa Cruz's late strike before the break gave them the impetus to fight back and show great determination, and when the Paraguay international to level on the hour mark you felt that Rovers might go on and win the game

But despite enjoying the lions share of possession it was the ten-men of Arsenal who won through thanks to Eduardo's extra-time strike.

"Unfortunately it was a similar situation to the one we found ourselves at the weekend," said Hughes on Radio Rovers after the game.

"We conceded two poor goals in the opening period and found it very difficult to get a foothold in the game in fairness, the first thirty minutes they kept possession well, rotated positions and had a lot of pace to their play and we found it very difficult to get that foothold that we needed.

"But we changed it somewhat after thirty-odd minutes or so and that helped us. We tried to get David (Bentley) into a central area and get him in possession of the ball and he started to cause them problems, then we get the goal just before half-time.

"In the second half we came out with a lot more resolve and determination, and the guys were prepared to do those hard yards that you have to to get the results at that level and we get back on level terms. So at that point you hope it is going to be more of the same and we could go on and take the tie.

"But at the moment we are expending so much energy in trying to get back on level terms that it is taking its toll, there will be periods where we switch off and good teams will punish you and that proved to be the case

"We had a number of opportunities, a couple of crosses that just needed a contact in the box, Morten had a shot, as did Benni when he came on, so there were opportunities.

"But it was always difficult given the fact that we'd come from a position where most teams had given up, but the positive is that we never do that, we keep going and that is the positive that we'll take out of the game that in the end has frustrated us."