Midfielder Bryan Hughes gave Blues the lead but Dion Dublin levelled for The Lions with 10 minutes left meaning there is still everything to play for in the second leg at the New Den on Thursday night.
Bruce said: "It was never going to be a classic. But I'm a bit disappointed, because in certain areas we didn't play football where we have done of late.
"They're always tense, edgy affairs in the play-offs and they're going to go right to the wire."
"It was a fair result, but obviously when you are 1-0 up with ten minutes to go you always think can we defend a lead."
"My job and the rest of my staffs' job is to get the players going again for Thursday."
"The past is gone and it's how we handle the situation. I still think there's plenty left in this."