DESPITE slipping to their first defeat in eight league games, Rovers boss Mark Hughes felt there were plenty of positives to take out of the display against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Rovers went into the game on the back of a seven-match unbeaten league run but goals from Senderos and Adebayor at either end of the game brought that to an end.

But that didn't tell the whole story as Rovers had the home side on the back foot for extended periods in the game.

"You don't really want to go a goal down so early at a place at the Emirates, but that was the situation that we found ourselves in, but I felt the response from the guys was excellent," said Hughes after the game.

"I thought we showed a lot of belief in the game plan that we had and how we were going to approach the game, we got the ball down and passed it and were really progressive in our approach and caused them a few problems.

"We had a number of opportunities, certainly in that first half where we could have possibly got back on level terms, second half we were always trying to get our passing game going again and it was only towards the end when we had a few tired legs out there and unfortunately we conceded one right at the death.

"But overall I'm delighted with the manner of the performance, there are not many teams try to come here and try and take Arsenal on in a passing game because they are an excellent side and very adept at that, but I thought today we matched them in that respect."

When Philippe Senderos headed the home side in front after just four minutes, it looked ominous for Rovers' but they rallied and never allowed Arsenal to gain the upper hand.

"I was really delighted with the response from the guys, I thought the belief in our play was excellent and certainly at half-time they all came in and were very positive that they wanted to get back on level terms and a real desire to try and get the job done.

"But towards the end we were failing physically a little bit because of a lack of games some of the guys had had.

"But I feel we put on a decent performance tonight, we played the game in the right way, we came close but we weren't quite good enough in the end."