BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle felt his side were worthy of at least a point from their crushing 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Leeds United.

After a forgettable first half Leeds took a deserved lead when dangerman Hadi Sacko got behind Corry Evans and crossed for Chris Wood to score with one of his first touches since coming on.

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But Rovers levelled when substitute Marvin Emnes thrashed in his first goal for the club.

The on-loan Swansea City striker and the hardworking Sam Gallagher then forced the previously underworked Rob Green into a superb double save.

But moments later Kyle Bartley shrugged off Gallagher to head in an Alex Mowatt free kick to secure Leeds’ first home league victory of the season and leave winless Rovers rooted to the foot of the Championship going into Saturday’s home clash with third-bottom Rotherham United.

Coyle said: “We’re standing here with no points but I felt we were certainly worthy of more than that.

“I thought the game was quite cagey at 0-0 with two teams feeling each other out. We looked comfortable and there wasn’t many chances.

“Then the goal was certainly avoidable. We got caught out of position a little bit, Sacko did well, and even then it’s hit Tommie Hoban’s heel for Wood to tap in.

“But the reaction to the goal was marvellous, we picked ourselves up, we really got at it, and we scored a wonderful goal and then had two fantastic chances to get in front and win the game.

“Then 90 seconds later we concede off a set-play. I’m convinced the free kick should have been given for us, because Wood was throwing Darragh Lenihan all over the place.

“But you still have to depend the set-play better and young Sam Gallagher, who I thought did very well tonight, was caught on the run.

“It’s not particularly nice to be sitting here with no points because I thought we put enough in, particularly in the second phase, to even win the game.

“It’s disappointing, frustrating, but we have to pick ourselves up to win on Saturday.”

On-loan centre-back Hoban is a doubt for the visit of the Millers after being replaced by Lenihan after taking a bang to his hip.

Coyle said: “Tommie has shown to be a very good player. He’s young and is going to get better. He’s done well since he’s come in.

“Fingers crossed he’ll be available for Saturday but we’ll just have to see how the next couple of days develop.”

With Charlie Mulgrew and Elliott Ward sidelined Coyle currently has just one fit and available senior centre-back in Gordon Greer.

And, asked whether that would speed up a deal for Wes Brown, who has been training with the club since the summer, and is now fit after injury, Coyle said: “It was important to get him up to speed in terms of fitness and now he’s come through that process.

“It is certainly something we’ll look to do but again, Wes has to have a part in that, so we’ll continue that dialogue and see where we get to.”