CRAIG CONWAY

‘WE all dream of a team of Craig Conways’ may not have broken out on to the terraces just yet but it would be a fitting tribute to someone who epitomises what every player who pulls on the famous blue-and-white halved shirt should be, regardless of the level the club is performing at.

The winger’s hard work was there in abundance, as ever, and so was the skill, with his stunning strike as good as any you will see at Ewood Park this season, and with Sam Gallagher the latest beneficiary of his pinpoint set-piece delivery

Just look at Conway’s reaction after scoring his first goal of the campaign. He means it, he wants it, he cares. More like him are needed if Rovers are to pull themselves off the bottom of the table.

THE CROWD

ROVERS’ pre-match plea on their website to ‘back the boys’ went down badly with a set of supporters who had been given absolutely nothing to shout about.

But that did not prevent the Ewood faithful from giving their backing to a makeshift and largely inexperienced side who went close to rewarding that support with a cherished first win of the Championship season.

However the club cannot ignore the huge swathes of empty seats around the third-full ground.

It was Rovers’ lowest attendance for a league match since November 2, 1991 when 9,877 fans watched Kenny Dalglish’s side beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 thanks to a Steve Livingstone penalty. 

And, more than the sporadic chants of ‘we want Venky’s out’, it was an indicator of the feeling among the fan base about the club’s absent owners and its failing fortunes.

LONG-STANDING PROBLEM

WITH the impressive Gallagher joining Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes in getting off the mark for the campaign, Rovers do look like they have goals in them, and they do have better striking options than they did last season.

But whereas in 2015-16 their strength lay in defence, as things currently stand they just don’t look like keeping a clean sheet.

Both goals Burton scored were avoidable, but particularly the first, and the fact that Rovers have now conceded 12 times in five games should be as big as concern to Owen Coyle as the dwindling attendances are to his bosses.

Coyle has already admitted he needs defensive reinforcements and you would not be surprised if he is also looking to strengthen in the centre of the park.

The return of Corry Evans will help but Rovers have been crying out for a midfield general for some time now.

Unlike his immediate predecessors, Paul Lambert and Gary Bowyer, here’s hoping Coyle finds one.