GRAHAM DAWE admitted his team left themselves far too much to do after a disappointing opening 40 minutes at Rotherham.

Albion, who have never won a league game on Rotherham soil, found themselves 26-6 down at the break.

"We did not really control many aspects of the game first half," said Albion boss Dawe.

"We did not build any pressure on their defence."

He added: "It would have been nice to have won the toss and played with the elements to begin with, but we had to play the cards we were dealt.

"And we just did not gain enough field position first half.

"Credit to Rotherham. They forced us to make kicking decisions early and ultimately we had to play a lot of rugby in our own half.

"But as we know only too well Rotherham is a hard place to come and play rugby and to win. We have to respect Rotherham as a team.

"Their supporters get behind their team and the Rotherham players laid down the gauntlet in the first 10 or 15 minutes.

"They got some momentum going and they kept the scoreboard ticking.

"We did finish the game as the strongest team by a long way and with another five minutes on the clock it could have been a different story.

"But the game is not about winning the last 20 minutes it is about winning over the 80 minutes.

"First half is about not losing the game – and, although we did not exactly lose the game in the first 40 minutes, we did put ourselves under intense pressure and having to play a lot of catch up rugby."

Dawe now has to pickup his players to play unbeaten Bedford at Brickfields this weekend.

"We need to prepare well this week," said Dawe.

"Bedford at home is always a game we look forward to. We have had some cracking games against Bedford.

"We just have to get the right 22 out on the pitch and give it a good shot."

Joe Clark, who came on for his Albion debut at Rotherham yesterday, added: "It was obviously disappointing.

"It was one of those days where things didn't come off.

"But we just have to work hard for next week's game.

"We just have to get our heads down, work on our mistakes and try and put it right for next week against Bedford."

Albion could have snatched a bonus point at the end of yesterday's match.

The visitors were only denied a try by an illegal tackle in injury-time.

"I think we were a bit unlucky at the end not to get another score," said Clark.

"But it was not a good performance overall, so we have to work hard this week to put things right."