MIDFIELDER Ryan Tunnicliffe believes Blackburn Rovers will take some stopping if they cut out the slow starts.

At half-time in their 17 Championship matches so far this season Rovers have found themselves behind in six and level in eight.

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But such are their powers of recovery they have managed to take 20 points from losing and drawing positions at the break.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is delighted with the resilience his young side continue to show.

But, after they came from behind at half-time to draw 1-1 at Brighton on Saturday, he vowed to use the international break to analyse why they tend not to get going until after the restart.

Tunnicliffe cannot quite put his finger on the problem.

But the 21-year-old concedes it is the reason why Rovers, who are seventh on 27 points, are not higher up the standings.

“We need to get a 90-minute performance from everyone,” said Tunnicliffe, who is on a season-long loan from Fulham.

“And if we start off as well as we finish games then I can’t see many teams beating us.

“I don’t know what it can be. We’re a very fit team so when other teams die out we can keep going for 90 or 100 minutes if need be.

“But we can’t keep coming in at half-time and leaving it until the second half.

“We need to begin starting games better and then we’ll get more wins rather than picking up points like on Saturday.”

Rovers will head into their big clash with Roses rivals Leeds United at Ewood Park on Saturday week unbeaten in seven matches.

But they have led at half-time in only one of those matches – the 2-2 draw at Millwall – and Bowyer aims to get to the bottom of it.

“100 per cent it’s something we have to work on,” he said.

“We spoke about it after the game on Saturday and the break has come at a good time for us to analyse that and look at getting back to ways when we’re good for 90 minutes.”

Rovers have not lost since going down to a 2-0 defeat at Rotherham United on September 30.

But Tunnicliffe is confident they can pick up from where they left off and that the international break can make the squad stronger.

“It’s a long time until we play next but that can be a good thing as well because we can recuperate and recover and get everybody back fit and fighting,” said the former Manchester United man.

“Don’t forget we’ve had six tough games in a short space of time – and a lot of travelling with that as well.

“So it has come at the right time and when we return we’ll try to keep the momentum going and get wins.”

Captain Grant Hanley and midfielder Corry Evans have joined up with the Scotland and Northern Ireland squads respectively.

But Hanley’s centre-back partner Shane Duffy has been left out of Republic of Ireland’s final 27-man squad after initially being named in their 36-man party.

Duffy, however, has a major reason to celebrate.

The 22-year-old, a big hit since his transfer deadline day move from Everton, has become a father for the first time.

Duffy’s partner gave birth to a baby girl on Sunday night.