THE League Cup has been something of a momentum killer for Blackburn Rovers in recent years.

Twelve months ago Rovers threw away any positivity picked up from a decent enough opening day display against Wolves by going out to Shrewsbury Town.

One year before that they let a 13-match unbeaten run, stretching over two seasons, slip from their grasp as they were beaten by Scunthorpe United.

It was a similar story in 2013 when, three days after Leon Best scored the first of what proved to be his two very expensive goals for the club, Rovers lost on penalties to Carlisle United.

On each occasion the club’s then manager Gary Bowyer paid the price for making sweeping changes.

As did Steve Kean in 2012, against MK Dons, and most infamously, in December 2011, when he ‘forfeited’ Rovers’ quarter-final tie against Cardiff City.

In fact you have to go back six weeks earlier, to October 2011, for the last time the club actually tasted victory in the competition, a last-gasp Gael Givet header securing a thrilling 4-3 win over Newcastle United.

Owen Coyle’s side will look to consign that wretched record to the history books tonight and kick-start a campaign which began in disastrous fashion on Saturday.

For their opponents, Mansfield Town, who got their League Two season under way with a late triumph at Newport County, it represents the chance to become the sixth lower-division club in succession to knock Rovers out of the League Cup.

But new Rovers boss Coyle is determined to not let that happen.

“It is an important cup tie,” he said. “They’ll be feeling good about themselves, they’ll have confidence about themselves, and there’ll be a good atmosphere.

“Every cup tie you play has the hallmark for a tricky cup tie and I saw that from my own experience as a player, and I’ve had great cup runs as a manager, outstanding cup runs, both as a favourite and as an underdog.

“Blackburn Rovers are a big scalp, Mansfield will be up for the game and so they should be. We have to make sure our attitude is spot-on and if we bring our quality then we know we can win the game.”

Rovers will make changes to the side which started the 4-1 home loss to Norwich City.

And Coyle said: “It’s fair to say there will be one or two who we can bring in who need to catch up on their match fitness and sharpness.

“Craig Conway, being one, Stephen Hendrie, possibly, as well, as he missed a bit of the pre-season, but within that because of the numbers we have, there won’t be too many changes in terms of strength from what I believe will be a strong team.

“I don’t think in any way it weakens your team because the Craig Conways are good players, who need to catch up on that match time, because they will be needed in the league campaign moving forward.”

Coyle added: “I’m sure the players, like I did, wished they had a game on Sunday, because after that you want to get back playing again. If you fall off the horse, you get back on it.”