Tony Mowbray hasn’t ruled out a change of formation with captain Darragh Lenihan set to serve a one-match suspension.

Lenihan was sent off in the defeat to Nottingham Forest and will be suspended for Monday’s trip to top six rivals West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

Daniel Ayala has waited patiently for his opportunity since returning from injury and would be a straight swap in the back three, but Mowbray said Lenihan’s suspension could open the door for Rovers to revert back to a four-man defence against the Baggies.

Ayala hasn’t started in the league for Rovers since November but has been back in the squad for the last 10 Championship fixtures.

Rovers switched to a 3-4-1-2 system for the visit of Peterborough United on November 24 and have stuck with their three-man backline ever since.

Asked if it would be a straightforward swap with Lenihan suspended, Mowbray said: “Maybe, we might decide to play a back four, we’ll decide upon who’s fit.

“After a game like that there’s a lot of knocks and bruises and we will see who’s available when we train at the weekend.”

Rovers will check on the fitness of Deyovaisio Zeefuik when they return to training over the weekend ahead of the trip to West Brom on Monday.

The January signing was preferred to Ryan Nyambe at right wing-back on Wednesday night but limped out of the closing stages which Rovers are hoping is nothing more than cramp.

They welcomed Sam Gallagher and Tyhrys Dolan back from injury for the Forest defeat and defender Harry Pickering could boost the options available to Mowbray for Monday night’s game.

Pickering has been out with a hamstring injury sustained in the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town on January 2.

He could regain his place on the left side of the Rovers defence, one which will be without captain Lenihan.

Mowbray wouldn’t be drawn on the decision to send off Lenihan, but said the Irishman was obviously disappointed to be shown a third red card of his career.

“What does it matter what I think, the referee thought it was a foul and he booked him,” Mowbray said.

“Darragh is disappointed. I see a tackle, the boy goes down, they scream for a card because every card is a booking and there you go.

“He’s disappointed, we’re all disappointed, because it’s really difficult to win football matches with 10 men.”