Manager rues cup loss and third defeat in row

O'Driscoll's charges went down to goals from former Manchester United youngster Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and substitute Luke Summerfield against Championship opposition Plymouth Argyle in the second round of the Carling Cup at Home Park.

And after suffering their third loss in 15 days O'Driscoll reflected: "Confidence is a fragile thing and it comes and goes at a whim – and we are not looking as if we are a confident side.

"But we are all in the same boat together – nobody is blaming anyone else, so we have got to stick together and dig ourselves out."

Beaten 2-1 by Hartlepool United and Bournemouth already in League One, Rovers have picked up just one point from their opening three domestic fixtures.

That came in a 1-1 drawn home clash with Millwall,all Rovers have to offer for a disappointing start to the new season.

But O'Driscoll, whose side face another long trip on Saturday - away to Swansea City - remains confident that his team's fortunes will change for the better with plenty of patience and hard work.

"I think the players’ attitude has been great and it always has been first class since I have been here," he said.

"They stuck to their task manfully, but Plymouth were the better side.

"Obviously we will use the available time we have left (this week) to try and prepare for Swansea, which will bean other difficult game."

Second-half substitute Gordon Greer struggled with an eye injury against Argyle, but O'Driscoll believes the former Blackburn Rovers defender will be fit for the Swansea match.

"There were one or two knocks and Gordon got a little nick by the side of his eye, which caused him to come off the pitch a couple of times.

"But I think he will have a couple of stitches and that will be no problem. He will be fine."