OWEN Coyle has warned his players he’s ready to make changes after they turned a winning position into a disappointing loss at Villa Park.

While not naming names, the Rovers boss said his loyalty to certain players had worn thin following another desperate surrender of points as Sam Gallagher’s goal was cancelled out by a deadly double from Jonathan Kodjia.

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He also told his side that they need to ‘stand up and be counted’ at crucial moments in games.

Coyle said: “We gave ourself a great opportunity to get ourselves three points with how well we played and the goal we scored, and if the truth be told we shot ourselves in the foot.

“I think back to Bristol City and how soft a goal it was, through an individual error.

“I’ve been loyal to a number of players in that team and it means that if we have to chop and change, if we have players fit and available because obviously we have been decimated by injuries, then that’s what we’ll do because we can’t keep gifting up goals.”

He added: “We played ever so well for a huge period of the game but we’ve gifted up, I think, two goals that are avoidable.

“In the first half we were outstanding and should have been a couple of goals in front, but we weren’t.

“We still came out in the second half and they had a little bit of pressure, but we managed to get one or two passing moves together.

“We then scored a wonderful goal and at that point, that’s when you’ve got to be solid and give nothing away.

“But we gave such a cheap penalty away and it’s frustrating, hurtful... it’s everything you want to say because it’s led to them coming back into the game.

“If we’d have held the lead for whatever it needed to be then they’d have committed more forward and we’d have properly picked them off again.”

Rovers have enjoyed just one shutout this season, the goalless home draw with Ipswich, and Coyle insists adding to that tally is crucial.

He said: “We’ve had one clean sheet. If we’d have had 10 clean sheets we’d have been picking up enormous points.

“That’s not down to great play from Aston Villa, it’s not down to tactics or anything else, it’s just down individual standing up to be counted, being resolute and having the mental strength to say, ‘I’m not giving anything up’.

“We want to be a team that passes and moves the ball and we do that.

“We made Villa look so ordinary for huge periods of the game and scored a wonderful goal, “But then if that’s the time it needs to be ugly, then that’s what we’ve got to do.

“There’s never a game where you’re going to play pretty football all the time.

“When you come under the cosh, particularly away from home at places like Aston Villa, you’re going to have to stand up and be counted.

“You’re going to have to make sure that you put your head in, you get blocks in, you stop crosses, you don’t give away cheap penalties, you track your runner when the ball’s switched and that the winger doesn’t cut inside you and get a second goal.

“Those are the things that need to get better.

“It’s not enjoyable for anybody in terms of the position we’re in, but we know we’ll get away from that position.

“But the sooner we start getting the clean sheets the better for everyone.”