Hockaday hopes that lessons have been learned

ROVERS boss Dave Hockaday hopes his Forest Green players have learned their lesson after Saturday's disappointing loss to Stevenage.

Runaway Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford United visit the New Lawn tonight (7.45pm) and Hockaday wants his charges to improve.

"I'm not saying that Stevenage were better technically than us," said Hockaday. "They are a better team than us because they want it more than we do, week in week out.

"We're getting there but we have to churn it out, week in week out, we are getting better but we have to start fast against Oxford.

"A good result shows that we have learned our lesson."

After a terrible first-half show, Rovers improved after the break but still could not force Boro's keeper into action.

What made the no-show from his side all the more frustrating for the Rovers boss was that it came on the back of a positive run of results.

Last Tuesday's cup success at Mansfield and the battling draw at Altrincham were signs of a marked improvement from Rovers.

"We've had another run of five, six undefeated but then come up against a big team that catch us cold early on and that can't keep on happening," said Hockaday.

"We are not that relentless yet, we need to be more relentless and therefore tougher mentally and physically.

"In the first half I am just so disappointed that there was a side that wanted it more than us.

"But that's the beauty of football, as there is always the next game to put things right.

"We have to learn from this and we are learning slowly."

Loan forward Sean Rigg has left the club after the expiry of his three-month loan, so Ben Joyce could come in for his first start.

Skipper Paul Stonehouse, a second half substitute on Saturday, should return to the starting line-up as could Oli Thorne, after Joe O'Ceaurill endured a miserable first-half showing against Stevenage.