Bristol City slipped to a third straight loss as their spiral down the Championship table continues.
A first-half Daniel Johnson penalty was enough to send the visitors from the West Country back down the M6 with nothing to show for their trip to Lancashire.
The Robins started the first half slowly, unable to register a shot on target but were better after the break as Tyreeq Bakinson and Antoine Semenyo came off the bench to help City push forward.
Callum O'Dowda and Semenyo both went close to scoring but were unable to convert from close range as the home side won for the first time in three league games.
"There wasn't a lot in the first half," explained Holden after the game.
"We created chances in the second half and Declan Rudd made a couple of good saves. We would all agree it's a second yellow card for Darnell Fisher in the second half with half-an-hour to go.
"But that wasn't the reason we lose the game. It's a disappointing night for us.
"It’s a disappointing night for us. I’ve not seen the penalty back - I’ve been told that there’s an angle where it looks like Tayls [Taylor Moore] has not caught him. It looked like a soft one.
"I spoke to the referee afterwards and he just said that if I got it wrong I apologise - I think he knows that he got it wrong but referees are human beings. Sometimes they make mistakes," he added.
Bristol City roll on to face Wycombe at home on Boxing Day, with the chance to win a first game in four.
