TONY Mowbray isn’t getting caught up in talk of formations ahead of their League One home opener, insisting it’s more about his side’s philosophy.

Rovers operated with three at the back in the Carabao Cup win at Coventry City on Tuesday, having gone with a back four in the opening day defeat at Southend United.

Mowbray revealed in pre-season that he wanted to be flexible with his systems, and believes the players are responding to what is being asked of them.

“We have been playing a number of different systems in pre-season,” Mowbray said.

“Generally I have been working on the flexibility of the group to play different ways and different systems.

“It’s not the shape of the team that is the crux of how we play, it’s the principles of play that we put in to that shape.

“The players don’t mind the shape, I have indoctrinated it in to them it’s not about one, two or three strikers it’s about how we press the ball in relation to where it is and what the opposition are doing.

“The players have bought in to that and as any manager you have to sell them the game-plan and I think they have very much bought in to what we’re looking for from them this year.

“Questions about formations, it doesn’t really matter, it’s a pretty standard answer.”

Mowbray’s options are also dictated by the players at his disposal, and he will be aided by the return of Craig Conway and the possible inclusion of Bradley Dack.

Rovers are back at Ewood Park tomorrow when they host Doncaster Rovers - their first home game since April 29.

Mowbray won three, and drew three, of his seven home games in charge of Rovers last season, and is looking to get off to a winning start on home soil.

But after coming unstuck in their opening league game of the season at Roots Hall, Mowbray added: “Our intention is to win every game but as we found out in the opening weekend, it’s not as easy as just turning up and playing.

“You have to earn the right, work really hard, compete all over the pitch and ask questions of the opposition, be resilient against their attacks, and this weekend will be no different.

“Doncaster have a very experienced manager (in Darren Ferguson) one who is positive and likes to play with the ball rather than being direct.

“It is different questions from last weekend but it’s ultimately about us and how we impose ourselves on them and get on the front foot and ask questions of them.”