ROVERS’ start to life in League One has been ‘okay’ in the eyes of defender Elliott Ward.

Centre back Ward is in line for his seventh successive league start for Rovers as he continues to deputise for the injured Darragh Lenihan.

Rovers are chasing a fifth victory of the campaign at Shrewsbury Town tomorrow as they bid to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat against AFC Wimbledon, their third already this season after starting with back-to-back losses against Southend United and Doncaster Rovers.

And Ward says their tally of 12 points from seven games means there is plenty of room for improvement.

“It’s an okay start, if in another month’s time we are in the top six that’s perfect and there’s still a lot of time and games to go,” the 32-year-old said.

“We feel confident that by the end of the season we will have achieved what we want.

“It has been a bit of a mixture. We’d had a good run until Saturday.

“We have shown that we can mix it up to win games, but we will come up against teams that will get a goal and defend for the rest of the game.

“We have to control games better and learn to break them down as teams will come to Ewood and make things hard.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

An injury to Lenihan, which will likely rule him out for the remainder of the calendar year, has presented Ward with his chance in the team.

But it was an injury of his own, picked up on the opening day of last season against Norwich City, which limited him to just six appearances in 2016/17.

He played the final five games of last term, and is hoping a good understanding with Charlie Mulgrew can see Rovers keep up their defensive improvement.

The pair have kept three consecutive clean sheets away from home going in to today’s game at Shrewsbury (3pm).

“You always set out a goal in pre-season,” he told the club’s official website. “Last pre-season was good until the first game (when Ward picked up an injury).

“This pre-season I had another good one and I didn’t start the season in the team.

“But I have played the last seven games, I’m enjoying it, and long may it continue.

“With Charlie I had only really played with him in a (back) three. When Paul (Downing) came in on his debut he had done really well, so we have the depth there.

“I’m enjoying it, and hopefully we will get another clean sheet.”