McDonald rues Rovers' defending

McDonald: Disappointed

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Blackburn Rovers assistant manager Neil McDonald rued poor defending following the 3-0 defeat by Fulham at Craven Cottage.

McDonald, standing in for Sam Allardyce as the manager awaits heart surgery, saw Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey score twice in the second half after Erik Nevland's opener just before the break.

Rovers had enjoyed the better of the first period and McDonald expressed his disappointment at the quality of defending for Dempsey's two goals.

He told Sky Sports: "You can dominate as much as you want, but if you don't put the ball in the back of the net...

"They had one chance in the first half and stuck it in the back of the net, and that's put their tails up and makes us feel a little bit sorry.

"We went in at half-time and said that we've conceded a bad goal, but keep to the gameplan and try and get back into it.

"The players certainly tried to do that, but in the end we chased it a little bit and that's why they scored the two goals.

"But we're still very disappointed with the defending for the two goals in the second half."

McDonald confirmed he had spoken to Allardyce in the build-up to the game as the Rovers boss awaits surgery to widen an artery.

He added: "I spoke to him this morning and he sounds really good.

"No doubt he will be in a disappointed mood because we've lost.

"I'll speak to him and I'll tell him there was a chance to take something from the game. We wanted to take something from the game, but we haven't got it."