Max Ehmer accepts the blame for the pivotal opening goal in Bristol Rovers' 2-0 defeat to Gillingham at the Mem on Wednesday.
The captain, who joined Rovers from Gillingham in the summer, was unable to cut out a hopeful, straight ball, allowing Vadaine Oliver to race through and give the visitors the lead before half time.
The opener came after a spell of pressure from the Gas, but poor finishing and decision-making in the final third let them down – not for the first time in recent weeks – swinging the balance of power firmly in Gills' favour.
Oliver bagged a brace in the second half, finishing a ruthless counter attack with a diving header to condemn Rovers to their fifth league defeat in seven games.
The Gas are fourth from bottom in League One, a point from safety, with Paul Tisdale awaiting his first league win after taking charge a fortnight ago.
"It wasn’t a bad performance from us," Ehmer said at full time. "We got the ball down well and created opportunities, but disappointingly we gave away two goals and it’s something we need to sharpen up on, especially us defenders.
"I’ll take the blame for the first one. I got caught in slightly the wrong position and I tried getting there but I couldn’t get my foot on it properly.
"It was a hopeful ball that landed in between, sort of in no-man’s-land, but I should deal with it. I’ve touched it just, but not enough.
"We’re chasing the game from thereon in and we created plenty of chances after that goal. There were chances all around and it’s something we need to sharpen up on.
"I was there the last few years and, especially under Steve Evans, they know what they’re good at. They get the ball forward and they work off seconds, and they’ve got good players up there to make it stick and create chances.
"It’s something we need to learn from, in terms of being ruthless in both boxes. We had chances throughout and it’s just about making sure we convert."
Rovers have just one win from seven home games this season, scoring just five goals in the process and Ehmer insists the players know their performances in BS7 have not been up to scratch.
"It’s something we’re aware of and it’s something we want to change as soon as possible," he said.
"This is our home ground and we need to make sure people know it’s our fortress.
"It’s something we’re working towards every day in training and we’ve just got to make sure we turn it as soon as possible."
