Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out three talking points ahead of the home game with Huddersfield Town.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Five wins, three draws and six defeats, amassing 18 points in the process, is Rovers’ record from their past 14 home matches.

It’s one they simply must improve on and return from the international break with the opportunity to do just that.

Luton became the sixth team to win at Ewood in 2019, and despite an improved display against Nottingham Forest on October 1, they were unable to turn that in to a victory.

Scoring more than one goal would help, Rovers managing just seven in their six games so far, with the 2-0 win over Millwall the only time they have scored more than once.

With a new-look backline expected, there would be no better time to ease the pressure on the back four by delivering on their promise in the final third.

Eleven home wins in a season is the most they have managed in a Championship season since relegation from the Premier League, and one you feel they must at least match if they are to harbour ambitions of a top six push.

Rovers’ record of not coming from behind to win a game since April 2018 is now well known, while they haven’t won at Ewood when the opposition have scored since January 1.

 

LIFTING THE MOOD

It has been a tough international break for Rovers and their supporters.

The defeat at QPR will seem much longer than the two weeks it has been by the time Rovers take to the field against Huddersfield in the Saturday lunch-time kick-off.

The 4-2 humbling was compounded by news that Greg Cunningham may well have played the last game of his season-long loan spell, while 24 hours later scans confirmed Darragh Lenihan will be out for up to eight weeks.

Slipping to 14th in the table and without a win in three games, concerns over the make-up of the defensive line and questions to answer in attack, everyone associated with the club would welcome a morale-boosting three points, however they were to come about.

A fast start would certainly help to get a home crowd on board who may well arrive at Ewood with some level of anxiety.

 

THE FULHAM FOUR

Rovers will be forced in to at least two changes with Cunningham and Lenihan both ruled out.

Amari’i Bell replaced Cunningham in the first half at QPR, with Adarabioyo a second half substitute as Lenihan limped off.

They would be the most likely starters should Tony Mowbray stick with a back four that started together in the second match of the season at Fulham.

Were that to be the case, then it would be a fourth league start for Bell and third for Manchester City loanee Adarabioyo who has had injury troubles of his own so far this season.

One of those appearances also came in a back three, a system Mowbray is now unlikely to consider with Lenihan out for up to two months.

So the pressure will be on both to come in to the side and overcome defensive lapses that saw Rovers caught cold by QPR, shipping four goals in just over one half of football at Loftus Road.