OWEN Coyle says Blackburn Rovers won’t hide behind their injury problems in central defence, believing individual errors have been the cause of their defensive troubles this season.

Rovers have shipped nine goals in their last three games, a run which has seen them drop back in to the Championship relegation zone ahead of the festive fixtures.

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Rovers have named 10 different central defensive partnerships in 25 games this season, possess the third leakiest defence in the division and have kept just two clean sheets.

And while injuries to Charlie Mulgrew, Tommie Hoban and Elliott Ward haven’t helped, Coyle says individual errors have been to blame for their defensive failings. “I think we all know the trials and tribulations we’ve had,” he said.

“But we don’t hide behind that. It’s my responsibility, with what we have available, to make sure we go out there and give everything we can.

“Ultimately you have to stand up to that, take responsibility and be accountable, we accept that head on.

“We’ve got to understand that individually we can’t make the mistakes that we have.

“Have we been punished for every mistake? Probably. But if you don’t make them then you won’t be punished.”

Shane Duffy and Grant Hanley were Rovers’ regular central defensive pairing last season, but both have since moved on.

Duffy and Lewis Dunk have been an ever-present partnership for Brighton since the Irishman left Ewood Park, and together they have helped Brighton boast the Championship’s tightest defence.

Rovers on the other hand, haven’t had such a luxury, but do have Gordon Greer back from suspension for the Boxing Day trip to Barnsley while Mulgrew could return from injury.

Coyle added: “You only have to look at Brighton, they’ve had the same pairing since Shane Duffy signed. Good teams, because they have had the luxury of a settled back four, will have that solidity and that leads to consistency at the back.

“We would all love the continuity of selection, particularly at the back.

“In attack you can always get away with freshening one or two things up, but in the defensive areas, you want that solidity.”

“We have a group of players working their socks off, and I know people will have their perceptions after losing those three games 3-2, but it was only a couple of weeks ago where we beat Brentford, won at Newcastle and had that hard fought draw with Huddersfield, but then in the space of a week, we lose three games that could have gone either way.”