The file of disappointments in the second half of the season has another entry after Rovers fell to another defeat, this time at struggling Sheffield Wednesday.

Josh Windass’ deflected strike eight minutes before the break consigned Rovers to yet another one goal defeat, a carbon copy of so many games, as they continue to be edged out.

Endless waves of possession, poor decision making, a host of a second half substitutes, it had so many of things we’ve become used to seeing, but crucially, no equalising goal.  When the clear-cut opportunities came, for Sam Gallagher and John Buckley, they weren’t taken, while Rovers have shown a tendency to give up soft goals too easily.

There are now just three games to go in a season few will be sad to see the back of, an indictment of how far its fallen away, with 19 defeats to their name, failing to score in more games than clean sheets they have kept.

Were it not for Thomas Kaminski, the margin for defeat could have been more, while Rovers didn’t take the few chances that came their way, as the game, much like their season, drifted away.

Five changes brought a rare start for Elliott Bennett at right back with Ryan Nyambe sidelined by a foot injury, as well as returns for Darragh Lenihan, Corry Evans, Joe Rothwell and Tom Trybull.

The on-loan German midfielder is still waiting for his first in Rovers colours, but it was his third minute strike from distance which forced the first save of the night from Keiren Westwood.

That wasn’t the start of a glut of goalscoring opportunities however, an uneventful start in a game in which the Owls simply had to force the pace and win, but weren’t, while Rovers couldn’t find any sustained quality to their play.

They did however, have a huge chance to lead 19 minutes in, one squandered by Sam Gallagher. Rothwell, Harvey Elliott and Adam Armstrong were all involved, the latter unselfishly squaring across the box for the unmarked Gallagher who snatched at his 12-yard shot that was dragged wide.

Gallagher was coming in for some tough treatment from Sam Hutchinson, the Wednesday man booked for one late tackle, and escaped a second for what looked a poorer tackle shortly afterwards.

The few quality bits of play were coming from Rovers, their second attempt of the game coming eight minutes before the break. Elliott’s neat ball down the flank freed Barry Douglas whose cross was headed goalwards by Rothwell, and saved low down by Westwood.

From in control of an uneventful game, Rovers then fell to pieces in the closing stages of the half.

Out of nowhere they found themselves behind for a sixth time in eight games. Adam Reach delivered a cross from the left, not for the first time, this one dropping to Josh Windass whose shot deflected beyond Kaminski off Lenihan.

 The concerning aspect was what to follow, Wednesday having three good opportunities before the break to extend their advantage.

They weren’t able to courtesy of defenders Tom Lees and Julian Borner being unable to hit the target when found unmarked by Barry Bannan free kicks in quick succession, while Kaminski pulled off one excellent stop to deny Reach as the Rovers defence parted, the goalbound follow-up of Joey Pelupessy blocked by the retreating Lenihan.

Having conceded first for the 26th time in 43 matches, Rovers were faced with finding a way back into a game once again.

Their defending from set pieces was a concern, Bannan’s delivery on the money again early in the second half, with Borner again winning the header, but unable to guide it on target.

Mowbray felt the answers could come from the bench as Rovers struggled to create anything of note.

Four in all were sent on, an indication of how uninspiring the second half had been from a Rovers point of view.

By the time they could get themselves warm, the game could have been gone, Liam Palmer found unmarked at the far post, his powerful shot straight at Kaminski who was again the savour, palming his strike away.

The changes hadn’t had the desired effect, only added to the possession that Rovers were able to have, though much of that came in their own half.

Yet finally, with some space to work in, they put together an excellent break that should have seen them level. From the edge of their own to the Wednesday box in a matter of seconds came courtesy of an excellent Ben Brereton break, his pass put Armstrong in down the left, his cross this time finding the run of John Buckley who put his shot straight into the arms of the grateful Westwood.

That was the final chance, and after that came and wait, Rovers’ hopes petered out.