Tony Mowbray said he considered matching Sheffield United’s system from the off as Rovers saw their unbeaten home record end.

Billy Sharp scored twice for the Blades in a 2-0 victory as they became the first side since September 2017 to win a league match at Ewood Park.

The Blades’ 3-5-2 system proved difficult for Rovers to contain in a first half in which they were second best.

Mowbray moved to a back three of his own at half time, sending on skipper Charlie Mulgrew, but Sharp scored twice in the second half as Chris Wilder’s side left victorious.

“Disappointed with the result but we were playing against a very good team,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph post-match.

“I said before the match that they are probably a year further on than us.

“They play a difficult system to play against, we had chances but just didn’t take them.

“I think they controlled the first half, we tried to make it more difficult in the second half yet they scored the goals in the second half.

“We will look to brush it off very quickly.

“They should be very proud of what they’ve achieved at home and I’ve told them that we now need to go and get three points at Bolton.

“If we win on Saturday then it’s better than what we have been doing which is drawing two games.

“We might as well go and get three points on Saturday and then it will be all right.”

When asked if the opening goal came at a time when Rovers were starting to gain a level of control, the boss added: “Maybe.

“I thought second half we were better and made life more difficult for them.

“I toyed with the idea of matching their shape up but thought they would be better at their shape than we would be.

“We decided to go with what we’ve been doing and just their extra men around the pitch made it difficult for us and we struggled to get a strangle hold on it.

“They have some really good technicians, with Fleck, Duffy and Norwood in there and the width on the outside with their wing-backs.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult night for us. We were happy to it get in at 0-0, I thought we might be able to nick it 1-0, but it wasn’t to be.

“Defeat is part of football, that’s what I’ve said. It’s okay to lose a game every now and then, it’s how you react and bounce back and I have every confidence they will.”