IT will be business as usual for Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer today despite reports that he had become the first managerial casualty of the season.

After Rovers lost 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday it was reported that their manager had been sacked.

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That came as a shock to Bowyer who was flying back from Brighton at the time along with the members of his squad and managing director Derek Shaw.

The reports also surprised Rovers officials who were not on board and they immediately contacted Venky’s in India for clarification on Bowyer’s position.

And, after Rovers’ owners confirmed that he was still in charge, the club issued a short statement on social media.

Rovers tweeted: “We would not normally comment on speculation, but reports this evening regarding our manager are totally untrue and without foundation.”

Bowyer is set to take training as normal this morning as his side start their preparations for Friday night’s crunch derby clash at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Third-from-bottom Rovers will go into the Sky-live encounter with second-from-bottom Wanderers still searching for their maiden victory of the campaign after they were beaten by Brighton on Saturday.

Rovers have drawn two and lost two of their first four Championship games as well as being knocked out of the Capital One Cup by League One outfit Shrewsbury Town.

It is the longest Bowyer has gone without a win since being installed permanently into the Ewood Park hotseat in May 2013.

But he was encouraged by the performance against a Seagulls side who climbed to second in the standings as a result of their third win in four league matches.

“I’m pleased with the number of chances we’re creating, especially when you consider that we’ve not really had that much time on the training pitch, what with it being Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday,” said Bowyer.

“So we’re looking forward to a big week leading up to the Bolton game when we can get some really good work done.”

Bowyer is hopeful that star striker Jordan Rhodes, who has missed two matches running for the first time in his Rovers career, will have recovered from an ankle injury to face Wanderers.

He said: “Jordan didn’t travel, he’s back at home getting treatment, but hopefully he’ll be ready for the Bolton game.

“And with the chances we’re creating, and with him in the team, we know he will convert them.

“That was the big positive (against Brighton). We’ve come to a very difficult place and created enough chances to have won the game.

“We’re pleased with the performances, in the terms of how we’re going about it, and the chances we’re creating.

“We’ve got undone by a deflection but we’ve got to stay positive for these players because the signs are all right.”

Bowyer has room for one more free transfer or loan signing in his squad.

He has been linked with Huddersfield Town frontman James Vaughan who, with one year left on his contract, is free to leave.

And Bowyer confirmed on Saturday that if he was to make a further addition, it would likely be a striker.

“If we weren’t creating those chances then we’d be looking for players who could do that,” he said.

“But we’re actually creating those chances, as you’ve seen today, but we just need to be a bit more ruthless and convert them.”