If you’re all sitting comfortably, then I’ll begin. This is the story of Rovers’ 2021.

In the beginning (January) there were three of them (wins, and new signings) and hope strung eternally.

But then entered the grizzly monster (February) there to spoil all your hopes and dreams (a top six finish and possible Premier League return).

For this is a story well told, patterns repeated and lessons not learned (seven 1-0 defeats in 2021).

The main characters will change every few days, with a least one surprise (the team selection).

Things will start off slowly, offering little inspiration (only eight first half goals in 22 games).

Yet we do so remembering back to the previous storylines in this series (September and November) and the great storytelling that would unfold (Armstrong goals and the free-flowing football).

Returning to the here and now there will be a goal in the first half, but for the opposition, a set piece sometimes, maybe a deflection, but most often filed under ‘soft, needless, avoidable’.

A meandering start to the second half, and then emerging from the bench, three, four, possibly even five at a time, are the substitutes. Stewart Downing will be seen, Tyrhys Dolan too.

You’ll be scratching your head trying to figure how it’s all going to work out, but there will be a response, signs of life, a greater urgency. But as chances come and go, and opportunities squandered, there remains only one hope of a happy ending (a corner in added time).

We should have learned not to get excited as it amounts to nothing.

The end (the final whistle).

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

You would have thought by now that Rovers would be masters of the comeback, they have had plenty of practice, this the 26th time they have conceded first in their 43 matches.

We’ve seen two wins, and five draws in terms of points clawed back, but at times it feels as though this side have to make it difficult to get themselves going. Where's the fun if it's not been a challenge?

The statistics get more damning by the week. They have now lost 19 matches, the same number they managed in the whole of their 2016/17 relegation season.

They have failed to score more times (13) than they have managed clean sheets (11) and it’s now two wins in 17 and 11 points taken from the last 51 available.

.......................................................................................................................

If this week in football has taught us anything, it’s that fans matter, and can make a difference. Those of a Rovers persuasion have become disenchanted and disillusioned with what they’re seeing from their team, and with good reason. It’s not been good enough for too long.

The club is crying out for some direction. When Tony Mowbray discusses next season and his hopes, it feels almost as if he’s pitching himself for the job.  

Because the performances have become so entwined, and similar, it makes it difficult to make assumptions on just how good, bad and indifferent the 90 minutes were.

Was Sheffield Wednesday any better or worse than Wycombe, or QPR, or Nottingham Forest, or Barnsley, or any number of other defeats that Rovers have had?

The one goal defeats aren’t always reflective of the game, and had Wednesday taken one of the chances in the immediate aftermath of the opening goal, in which Rovers fell to pieces, or the two openings they had in the second half, then things could have been worse on the scoreline for Rovers.

In the end it was a 15th one-goal defeat and more disappointment.

The only positive to come from the whole match was that it was one nearer to the finish line, to trying to establish just which direction Rovers are going to head.