Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the defeat to Wigan Athletic.

UN-ROVERS LIKE

A second successive defeat for Rovers, with the promised response to the Preston humbling not materialising. If anything, they were arguably worse.

The three goals they conceded were desperately poor, from not closing down Gary Roberts for the first, a simple ball catching out Jack Rodwell for the second, and an excuse of a challenge from Derrick Williams in the lead up to the third.

They were gifted a way back in to the game, which they didn’t deserve, but blew any hopes of a possible comeback by conceding just 90 seconds later.

Worryingly, there were concerns, again, at both ends of the pitch, with hopeful long balls leaving Tony Mowbray exasperated time and again.

But more so, there was a lack of fight against a Wigan team who left their mark with several strong challenges in the early stages.

They looked beaten from the moment Roberts made it 1-0, and failed to truly test ‘keeper Christian Walton.

Rovers have now shipped 19 goals away from home. Only Wigan, who have lost eight of their nine away fixtures, have conceded that number, while no-one has let in more.

MORE CHANGES

Rovers made four changes, albeit two enforced, with Darragh Lenihan injured and Elliott Bennett suspended, adding to the three against Preston.

Indeed, since going unchanged for the 3-1 defeat at Swansea, although injuries have transpired against them, Mowbray has made 21 changes in five matches.

And David Raya and Harrison Reed apart, no-one could argue were they to be left out against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Two changes came in the back four, as Rovers named a 10th different combination in 19 league matches, but little changed. Ryan Nyambe and Amari’i Bell really struggled on the ball, James Vaughan caused Charlie Mulgrew and Jack Rodwell all kinds of problems, while the movement of Josh Windass was a threat from the minute he came on.

Rovers must get back to basics, while opportunities must surely now be handed to the likes of Craig Conway, Joe Rothwell and Ben Brereton whose chances have been limited so far.

PULLING NO PUNCHES

The Rovers boss was visibly upset about what he’d seen as the 90 minutes played out, both on the touchline and in his post-match interview.

He held his hands up, admitted it wasn’t good enough, and had clearly told the players the same.

Mowbray said his players had plenty of credit in the bank with him, but that won’t stop him considering freshening things up in a bid to arrest two poor results.

Yes it is just back-to-back defeats for the first time since the opening two fixtures of last season, but the manner of the has to be a concern.

While Mowbray pulled no punches post-match, he said his players should have ‘gone out swinging’ so to not be bullied by a Wigan side who they battled so hard with last season.

Mowbray described it as the worst performance of his tenure, and thankfully you don’t have to think back over too many when working out how valid that is.

And they have just two days on the training pitch to try and put it right against Sheffield Wednesday, with a tough-looking Christmas period on the horizon.

ATTACKING STRUGGLES

It is now no first half goal for four matches, and since the opening day, they have failed to score in the opening 45 minutes on 12 occasions. Here, they didn’t manage a shot on target before the break.

Danny Graham was recalled to the starting line-up, but there appears to be an acceptance of just hitting hopeful long balls when he is on the pitch, Rovers averaging 86 long balls a game, more than any in the division.

Only the bottom four have managed fewer shots on goal.

Bradley Dack is closely shackled these days, and when he’s crowded out of games, Rovers need others to step up to the plate to find that creative spark.

Adam Armstrong has shown he can dazzle, but in all too brief bursts of late, and finding the right attacking balance is one more problem to solve.

DEFENSIVE CONCERNS

Seven goals conceded in two matches would always be a worry, but it’s the manner in which they have been shipped that is so worrying.

It was only down to the woodwork (Wigan hit the bar three times) and poor finishing (two free headers missed from inside the six yard box) that the hosts didn’t score more than the three they did.

Rovers looked vulnerable from set plays, Windass denying his own man a goal by blocking on the line when in an offside position.

The full backs have struggled in those two matches, with Mowbray bringing on Derrick Williams at half time to try and bring solidity to the left side with Bell in front of him.

But the use of the ball from those players was particularly disappointing, often stopping any momentum when going forward.

In their defence, Rovers haven’t been afforded the luxury of a settled back four, with Nyambe, Lenihan and Williams all having their injury problems.

But with four 1-0 wins under their belts so far, they need to get back to resoluteness which has been the key to many of their victories so far.