Tony Mowbray felt Rovers were caught out by Wigan’s physical approach in the reverse fixture in November.

The boss felt the Latics moved away from their usual style under Paul Cook to catch Rovers cold as they ran out 3-1 winners. The two teams, promoted from League One last season, meet again at Ewood Park tonight having endured struggles of late.

Rovers are without a win in their last seven matches, while no win in six has left Wigan two points above the relegation zone.

James Vaughan, whose physical presence troubled Rovers in the last meeting, has since left Wigan, but Leon Clarke could be recalled in attack should Cook choose to go with a more physical presence up top.

“We prepared for a team who play how Wigan normally play but they didn’t on the night. They played more direct and were robust at the top end of the pitch,” Mowbray said.

“As has been shown at times this season, against that type of player, we’ve not come out on top. We don’t really have central defenders who enjoy and embrace that physical confrontation and we came out second best on the night.

“If that’s what’s coming again, we have to be ready for it, whoever plays centre half. Yet Wigan, historically since I’ve been watching them, with Cooky as the manager, they have kept the ball on the ground and moved it around the pitch and been a technical team.

“What I know is that they have both ways of playing, and having suffered at their ground, we will be ready for both approaches and are looking forward to the challenge.”

Wigan come in to the game on the back of conceding two goals in injury time to lose 3-2 at Reading. Rovers are also reeling after a derby defeat against Preston, with both having suffered disappointment in recent weeks.

“We have had experience of that ourselves of course, a similar scenario at Elland Road,” Mowbray said, citing Rovers’ defeat at Leeds on Boxing Day.

“It will be frustrating for them, but they can try and use it as a tool to motivate them.

“I know they will have been hurting and come kick off time they will have pushed the re-set button and use it as a motivational factor. Footballers don’t like to feel that hurt and disappointment.”

Wigan pipped Rovers to the League One title last season, but Rovers are nine points better off this season.

Acknowledging the work of his opposite number, Mowbray said: “I like Wigan as a club, I like their coaching staff and the team, yet we will be giving our utmost to get the three points on Tuesday night. I’m sure it will be a good game and hopefully at the end of it we will have got the three points.”