Tony Mowbray wants his players to start demonstrating on the pitch what they are showing him in training on a more consistent basis.

The boss believes his side are playing a better brand of football this season, but wants that to be reflected in the results, having gone a fifth game without a win

Mowbray felt his side were unrecognisable in the first half at Birmingham City but is confident of a response as Rovers make the short trip to Preston tomorrow.

And while the boss saw positive signs in recent draws with Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest, he’s keen to see them become more consistent.

“What you do on the training pitch has to be reflected in what you do on a Saturday, you have to be able to see it,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“I see a different team this year to the one last year, yet ultimately all that matters is you have to win games, whichever way you play.

“Every matchday is a reflection of the work you do and that was the frustration from Tuesday because I couldn’t recognise the team from the work that we do.

“We were so passive. That’s the first time I’ve seen that for a long time. That was my frustration.

“I’m sure on Saturday, we might get beat and they might be better than us, but we’ll be there competing.

“No team wins every football match, along the way you have to take the defeats on the chin, take the draws when you feel you should have won, and move on to the next game.”

Rovers will be without Lewis Holtby for the trip to Preston, and with Darragh Lenihan and Greg Cunningham already ruled out, Mowbray’s options are stretched.

Despite the extra attention brought about by a derby, Mowbray is more focused on his side producing a performance that is more in keeping with what he expects.

“Every match is a showcase to show what you’re about, we live for Saturday afternoon and Tuesday night, it’s why we come to work every day and put the long hours and strive to put the best team on the pitch,” Mowbray said.

“Saturday is another opportunity for us to show what a good team we can be and reflect the work that’s been done.

“For spells we’ve been pretty good against a Nottingham Forest who could have gone top of the table in midweek, we shouldn’t fear anyone in this league and I don’t think we do.

“We will embrace every game and look to show them what a talented group of players we’ve got.”

The boss has aspirations of challenging for a top-six spot this season, and despite Rovers’ recent run of results, in which they have picked up two points from a possible 15 available, Mowbray still feels that is an achievable aim.

A trip to a Preston side who have regularly been among the chasing pack for a play-off spot in recent seasons, and currently sitting sixth, will be a good yardstick of where Rovers find themselves.

Their next three games all come up against sides in the top six, with a home game with Sheffield Wednesday next weekend and a trip to Leeds on November 9 before the international break.

“We have to go and compete against teams with those aspirations,” he said.

“We want the aspiration as well and the belief I’ve been trying to put in to the players this year, that’s where we should be aiming for, and it’s still very much within our grasp.

“We have to go and show teams like Preston what a good team we are.”