JACK Byrne admits Blackburn Rovers owe their supporters after the opening day drubbing by Norwich City – as Owen Coyle attempts to sign Southampton striker Sam Gallagher.

Rovers kicked off their Championship campaign with a horrible 4-1 home loss to the Canaries on Saturday.

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They will look to bounce back in tomorrow’s EFL Cup first-round clash at Mansfield Town before returning to league action at new boss Coyle’s former club Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

And on-loan Manchester City midfielder Byrne said: “There’s 45 games left but it wasn’t good enough and we know if we keep playing like that we will be at the wrong end of the table.

“Maybe it’s the kick-up the backside we needed. We have to get back on to the training field and work hard toward Tuesday night where hopefully we’ll put this right.

“We don’t know why we played the way we did. Everybody was feeling really good. The manager has been great with us in pre-season. He’s given us the belief that we can challenge anybody.

“So it’s really hard to explain. We went into the game thinking it wouldn’t be a surprise if we beat them.

“But it wasn’t to be and we’ve got to concentrate on Tuesday now. It’s good to have a game so quickly and then we have got a big game next week.

“We’re looking to put it right as we owe the fans a performance. We’ve been waiting two months for a game, for the real thing to come back around, and we’re really, really disappointed that everyone’s going home with not a nice feeling.”

Byrne spent last season on loan at SC Cambuur who is he was unable to help stay in the Dutch top flight despite some impressive individual displays.

And the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international said: “People are down in the dressing room but determined as well to put it right because nobody wants to be down at the wrong end in this league because it can be difficult when you’re fighting down there.

“The team I was on loan at in Holland last year were fighting down the wrong end of the table and it’s not a nice feeling.

“It’s the first game of the season, so let’s not get carried away, but we want to put it right and we want to be fighting up there at the right end of the table from the first to the last.

“Hopefully Tuesday night we can do well in the cup and then bring it into Saturday and get some wins on the table.”

Rovers manager Coyle confirmed after the loss to Norwich that he is still looking to add to his squad.

One of those targets is understood to be England Under-19 international Gallagher from Southampton.

The 20-year-old spent the first half of last season on loan in the Championship with MK Dons where he made 15 appearances without scoring.

The 6ft 4in Gallagher has netted two goals in 20 appearances for Southampton and notched a stunning winner in the club’s Under-21 Premier League Cup final victory over Rovers last year.

Coyle said: “We’re chasing one or two at the moment and I think it’s well documented where I’d like to add and we’d like to do that.”