Colin Kazim-Richards scored the only goal of the night 15 minutes from time and while the majority of City’s performance gave cause for encouragement, the lack of a cutting edge at Ewood Park was a source of frustration.
“I thought we deserved something from the game,” said Bruce.
“We made a mistake for the goal – switched off for a throw-in – but apart from that we created the better chances, although we didn’t make their goalkeeper work enough.
“Some of our football deserved a bit better, but I’ve been saying ever since I walked through the door that the thing we have to improve on is scoring goals.
“When you go to a place like Blackburn and have three or four chances, you’re hoping you can take one of those. Unfortunately we didn’t do that and we got punished for it near the end.
“It was a scruffy, horrible goal (to concede) but from my experience the Championship is about the sides that make the least mistakes. We switched off from a throw-in, they put a long punt into our box, James Chester’s unfortunately missed a header, then we tried to clear it once and then Alex (Bruce) has smashed the ball against somebody’s chest for it to fall nicely for them.
“It was one of those horrible goals that leaves you coming away, scratching your head thinking of all the good play Blackburn had, we lost a goal like that.
“I thought the way we played and competed was excellent, however we must remember that to win a football match, we have to score a goal.”
Bruce made changes in personnel and system at Ewood Park with City operating with three centre backs and two wing-backs, and it was a system that, in the main, the manager felt suited his side.
“I thought the system suited us,” added Bruce.
“I tried to get a system where we had two strikers on the pitch and that could accommodate one of the best midfield players in this league, which in my opinion is Robert Koren. I thought he was excellent on the night.
“We wanted a system where we could play two strikers with Robbie, which is a little bit different, the aim being to try and score more goals.”