Rovers' six-game winning run came to an end against The Lions in gutting-wrenching fashion. Having defended well with ten men for the last 15 minutes, Mihailo Ivanovic's late header condemned them to a first defeat since November 6. It has been a remarkable run from Eustace's men, who have little time to feel sorry for themselves with four games in quick succession from Boxing Day through to January 4 against Burnley.
Eustace felt the late defeat at The Den was a marginal one with the circumstances not in Rovers' favour. READ MORE: EUSTACE REITERATES ROVERS' TARGET WITH JANUARY TRANSFER REMINDER "I'm very proud of the efforts in the first half of the season. We started well in that Derby game at home and we were outstanding," he said.
"The run we have been on has been terrific. A lot of hard work has gone in and there is more ahead in the second half of the season. "You have to remember that when a club legend like Neill Harris leaves, their lads really wanted to put in that performance for him today.
"It was always going to be difficult but we defended very well. We limited them to next to nothing. The conditions didn't help the football for either side, neither team created many.
"The quality moments we did have, it would've been nice to have been more clinical. But the last 15 minutes, the effort with ten men was sensational. We just couldn't quite get through it.
"We are frustrated by it but we're back to work and we have to get going again." Rovers' golden opportunity fe.