CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

IT may be hard to find positives after a fourth defeat in five games leaves you winless and bottom of the table.

But if the major cause for Rovers’ downfall so far this season has been their defending then there was reason to be encouraged by the performance produced by a makeshift back-four put together 24 hours before the match.

Derrick Williams was solid at left-back and right-back Jason Lowe got better as the game wore on after a difficult first half up against Neeskens Kebano. Tommie Hoban was calm and composed throughout out and fully deserving of his man-of-the-match award, while his centre-back partner Gordon Greer hardly put a foot wrong until his weak clearance was punished by Tom Cairney.

Yes it was another game when a mistake cost Rovers dear – the ball should have been cleared even before it got to Greer – but it was an altogether better showing from a defensive point of view.

GOODBYE BEN?

AS Ben Marshall walked off the field to the sound of his name being sung by the Bryan Douglas Darwen End the thought crossed the mind whether it will be the last time we see him in a Rovers shirt.

The winger has given the club no indication he will sign a new deal and, with less than 12 months remaining on his current contract, Venky’s must now decide whether he becomes the latest in a long line of star payers to depart Ewood Park since last summer; a line which started with Cairney’s shock sale.

Rovers should have offered fresh terms sooner. That they didn’t only served to rile the player.

But having backed themselves into a corner, Venky’s may well have no option but to accept a bid for Marshall if one comes in as enticing as the one which whisked Shane Duffy away.

GO AGAIN

AS soon as the final whistle was sounded by a referee who gave Rovers little in the way of big decisions until he denied Fulham what looked a clear-cut penalty, the boys in blue and white halves sunk to their knees.

They had given everything. As professionals that should be the bare minimum requirement but since those woeful opening two league displays, and farcical first half at Cardiff City, this group of players look like they have the heart for the fight.

So, as devastating as Cairney’s injury-time winner was, they have to regroup and go again.

The start to the Championship has not been good enough, by any stretch of the imagination, but there is more than enough time to turn it around.