CAPTAIN Grant Hanley has assured Blackburn Rovers supporters that the report claiming boss Gary Bowyer had been sacked has had no effect on the preparations for tonight’s derby at home to Bolton Wanderers.

After Rovers went down to a 1-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday a national newspaper claimed that Bowyer had lost his job.

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The club denied those claims later in the evening and Hanley said: “To be honest, the players don’t look too much into it.

“These days, in any walk of life, but especially football, things on social media, it’s just crazy.

“But I can assure you the lads are focused and it’s not been mentioned once at the training ground.

“We’re focused on the job we’ve got in hand and the whole week has been about preparing for Bolton.

“It’s not had an effect on the lads.”

The loss to Brighton left Rovers in the bottom three and still searching for their maiden win of the season.

But, like in the midweek 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City, they created enough opportunities to have claimed their first three points.

Hanley, who netted Rovers’ equaliser against Cardiff, said: “It’s been a frustrating start because the performances have deserved better, especially last week at Brighton and at home to Cardiff.

“We gave a sloppy goal away against Cardiff but we got right back in the game and, the amount of chances we had, we could have won a couple of games.

“It was similar on Saturday. Brighton is always a tough place to go, they keep the ball and you don’t see it for long periods.

“But we set up well, we were organised, and they didn’t create that many chances, and certainly not as many as us. If we’d have taken our chances it would have been a different story.

“The lads have been playing well. We just need to try and get our first win under our belt.”

Hanley, who has been called-up for Scotland’s Euro 2016 qualifiers next month, added: “That first win would relax everyone and it would be nice going into the international break.

“I don’t think we’re far away but when you’ve not won, everybody gets itchy feet.

“Hopefully we can get a win on Friday night.”

Rovers would stand a better chance of doing that if they avoid going behind for the sixth match running.

And Hanley said: “In every game this season we’ve gone behind early doors and it’s not a good habit to get into.

“I’m sick of coming in at half-time 1-0 down so hopefully we get the first goal on Friday and take it from there.”