Corey O'Keeffe believes the game plan in the 2-1 defeat at Accrington Stanley worked perfectly until Rovers were reduced to 10-men.

Forest Green were dominant in the first 40 minutes in Lancashire, with Myles Peart-Harris giving Rovers a deserved lead midway through the first period. Duncan Ferguson's side should have been further ahead - but Peart-Harris and O'Keeffe both produced good saves from Accrington 'keeper Lukas Jensen.

Rovers were then reduced to 10-men just before half-time, with Olly Casey given his marching orders for a foul in the middle of the pitch, with Aaron Pressley equalising from the resulting free-kick.

The hosts took the lead after 66 minutes - and Rovers found it difficult to get back into the game with the numerical disadvantage. The red card proved to be a significant turning point - with O'Keeffe believing that things just aren't dropping his side's way at the moment.

"We started the game really well and the red card kills us a little bit," said O'Keeffe. "It sways momentum and they scored straight after it happened.

"It was tough for the lads coming back out for another 45 minutes. Until the red card, we felt like we were in control and that we could get two or three. They didn't really have any chances and we looked dangerous going forward, but the red card swings momentum.

"The game plan worked perfectly for the first 40 minutes. We wanted to stretch them and then start playing our football once we'd stretched them.

"It's tough because we're trying our hardest but things aren't dropping for us, just like the red card today when we were playing so well. Something has to drop to us - and we need to keep going until something does drop to us.

"Duncan is massive for us. Everyday he's onto us and I think that has shown on the pitch at points. The gaffer is keeping onto us to do everything right and that's what we'll keep doing.

"If the red card doesn't happen, then I think we win that two or three-nil, but things aren't dropping at the minute."