Barnsley: Sour taste in mouth for Marc Roberts after Reds' defeat to Brighton

Sam Baldock’s double downed Paul Heckingbottom’s men, who failed to take a plethora of chances at Oakwell.

Roberts has been a rock at the heart of the Reds’ defence all season, and even more so since taking the armband last month.

But even a top performance from the skipper could not keep the Championship table toppers at bay (this would change if Newcastle win tonight).

“It was very disappointing on our part,” admitted Roberts.

“I think we played well and probably didn’t take our chances and a team of their quality, they didn’t have many chances but they took them.

“That’s why they’re up at that end of the table and we’re very disappointed.

“It was little fine margins in the game, we know they’re a solid team and as I’ve said, that’s why they’re up there.

“They don’t give much away so when you get your chances, you have to take them and unfortunately we didn’t.

“They’ve got some good players don’t get me wrong but I don’t think they troubled us that much, I think we stayed solid as a side, they never ripped us open I don’t think.”

“It was just two half-chances and that’s where the quality does shine for them,” he added.

Despite disappointment at the weekend, Roberts is certain the side will learn from their mistakes and be more ruthless in front of goal.

The Reds were seen as relegation contenders at the start of the season.

However, they have been the surprise package in the second tier this term - and they currently sit in ninth place, nine points off the play-off spots.

With that in mind, the centre-back does not want the players to rest on their laurels between now and the end of the season.

He added: “We’ve come very far as a team and we’re not going to stop here.

“We’re not in this league to make up the numbers, we want to keep getting better.

“We talk about it every day and we’ve shown Brighton, one of, if not the best team in the league, a good game.

“On another day, we might have got something from it.

“We’re always trying to improve on the training pitch and the Gaffer has said we’ll look at that and see how we can improve from that performance.”