OWEN Coyle has vowed to come out fighting after receiving criticism in Blackburn Rovers’ latest Championship defeat.

Rovers were beaten 1-0 at Birmingham City on Saturday to remain third from bottom going into the international break.

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Coyle was subject to disapproving chants from the travelling supporters at St Andrew’s where their side suffered a seventh league loss of the campaign.

But afterwards he said: “We’re not going to be down.

“We’re going to pick ourselves up, we’re going to come back and we’re going to win games to take us where we need to be. Everybody will be pulling in the same direction.

“As a manager you’re open to criticism, I understand that, I understand everything that goes with it, but we’ve never run away from a fight before and we certainly won’t now.

“We’ll pick ourselves up, be ready to go and win games, and get ourselves up the table.”

Rovers have won just two and drawn two of their 11 league matches so far this season.

And, when asked directly about the stick he took from a section of the 555 Rovers supporters, Coyle said: “It is what is.

“What I do know is we’ve got a group who are working hard every day, a group that wants to be at Blackburn Rovers, a group that wants to win games for the supporters, and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“If that had been a draw or a win then that criticism would not be there. If you go and get positive results that criticism is not there.”

Rovers will look to return to winning ways when they resume their campaign at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday week.

Captain Jason Lowe will miss the match through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Birmingham.

And Lowe said of the reverse: “I felt it was a game of two halves.

“I felt we were well on top in the game and pressing it for large periods in the first half.

“I thought we had good opportunities to score while limiting them to not very much.

“Thinking about it I can’t remember too many times when Steeley (goalkeeper Jason Steele) has had much to do but again we’ve come out with a defeat.

“It’s a difficult one to take but it’s one we’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves about. We’re going to pick ourselves up and go again after the break.”

Rovers lost Corry Evans, Marvin Emnes and Danny Graham to injury on Saturday.

Evans is due to meet up with the Northern Ireland for their World Cup qualifying double header.