Lee Johnson accused his side of lacking fight in the defeat at Ewood Park and offered no excuses for his side.

The Robins started the day in seventh but finished it in ninth as Rovers overtook them in the table after their 3-1 win.

Jamie Paterson put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute but that was as good as it got for Johnson’s side as Rovers did the double over them, having won at Ashton Gate in December.

Corry Evans levelled before the break, before Tosin Adarabioyo curled Rovers ahead on the hour. Adam Armstrong came off the bench to make the game safe, as despite ringing the changes, including two at the break, the Robins had no answer.

“Yes we had to (hit the ground running) and there isn’t an excuse there,” he told this club’s website.

“I’d tell you if there was an excuse: us not being fit, not being charged, or preparations, not coping with our surroundings, or no crowd noise but no, everything was catered for by the staff and the build-up was all about playing our game and with heart and we didn’t do that enough.

“They didn’t mean to do it but they didn’t do it and we forgot how to play. It was disappointing to see, it’s painful but what do you do but get together, refocus and try to do all you can to win the inches and go and win the next one.

“It’s an opportunity missed firstly. We have to go back to the drawing board for the players who have been good and others deserve to knock on the door now. It’s a difficult team selection next week because I have to put players out who I can trust.

“There wasn’t enough fight and if there was fight it was sparring, not punching. The boys were fit enough and we have to look in the mirror and do better next time.”