THE GOOD

THE irrepressible Craig Conway. That’s two goals, as eye-catching as you will see, in the past two games, plus three assists to boot. He is fast becoming the team’s talisman.

Scott Wharton. He had a more difficult time of it than he did on his senior debut but the teenager stood strong and scored his first goal for the club to bring Rovers level.

Hope Akpan started the comeback, with a fine finish of his own, and he had a good game. Liam Feeney was a threat with his pace. Danny Guthrie looked lively when he came on. David Raya recovered well from his error for Crewe’s second goal to make a trio of saves, one of which was outstanding.

The side as a whole for the character they showed to fight back after another poor first-half performance. Yes you have to take into consideration the opposition but Rovers got through – and ultimately, that’s all that mattered.

The crowd (more of which in a moment). They were given little to cheer for most of the opening period but once their side started displaying some much needed urgency, the home fans fully played their part in the comeback.

Lancashire Telegraph:

THE BAD

IF the alarm bells were not already ringing at Ewood Park and in Pune, then they should now after the EFL Cup tie attracted Rovers’ lowest attendance for a league, FA Cup or League Cup match in 30 years.

Yes it came sandwiched in the middle of two league games, yes small crowds for League Cup clashes have not been uncommon in recent years, and yes Owen Coyle’s side’s form in the Championship will not have helped.

But given it came on the hot on the heels of the club’s lowest attendance for a league fixture in 26 years, and given it came on the perfect night for football, the sight of just 2,913 Rovers supporters in the ground painted a sad picture of the unhappiness in the fan base.

That unhappiness may not yet have manifested itself into mass protests against the club’s owners but it is clear, with season ticket sales down, supporters are voting with their feet.

THE UGLY

ROVERS have now conceded 15 goals in their first six matches of the season, including four against League Two opposition, and you can count on one hand how many were unavoidable.

Take away Jacob Murphy’s and Billy Bingham’s stunning long-range strikes and the rest have come from individual mistakes or switching off as a team.

You may be able to get away with it against Crewe and Mansfield Town but, as we have already seen, you will get punished if you are as open and as error-laden in the Championship.

Rovers need to sharpen up collectively but they also need new blood with a centre-back, a left-back and a leader in the middle of the park all priority signings before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.

Because, if they continue to defend as badly as they are, there is only way they are heading.

Lancashire Telegraph: