Captain Lewis Travis says Rovers’ impressive start to the season shouldn’t be overshadowed by the defeat to local rivals Burnley.

Rovers went into the break third in the table but on the back of their most disappointing result of the season, a 3-0 defeat at Turf Moor.

Yet Rovers have won the most games in the division and sit third, ahead of expectations of every supporter after a summer of upheaval at Ewood Park.

Travis feels Rovers will benefit from the break, and believed the week in Spain was a positive one, with back-to-back friendly wins over Hearts and Ajax without conceding a goal.

And the 25-year-old says one result shouldn’t cloud what has been a positive opening 21 games.

And the Rovers midfielder told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I think if you take that game away everyone would snap your hand off and say that we’d had a really good first half of the season.

“The Burnley game overshadowed it a lot but in the grand scheme of things I think people will only care about the results this season and whether we can get promoted, and I think we just need to try and replicate the results we’ve had and build on that.

“We’ve got another derby game, not as tasty, but it’s one to look forward to.”

Travis, who has started all but one of Rovers’ matches this season, played in the first of Rovers’ two friendlies in Spain, the 4-0 win over Hearts.

He felt there were positives to take, not least the intensity the game was played at in the Spanish heat.

“The main thing has been fitness leading into Preston and everyone looks good, we haven’t played for three weeks so it wasn’t going to be perfect, but I thought it was good,” he added.

“There were times in the game when it got a bit sloppy, and that was always going to happen because it was our first game back after a few weeks off but I think he was happy with and the fitness side of it.”

International breaks are nothing new, but the extended time off is, with the Championship paused for four weeks for the World Cup.

That allowed the players to take some time off, as well as the opportunity to work on the training pitch.

Travis said: “It’s been strange, but I’ve not minded it considering that we’ve had all in all a good first half of the season.

“We managed to rest up and get ready to go again.

“I always think a week or two, most of the lads were able to get away, recharge the batteries and then come back and everyone looks at it.

“We’ve had a lot of time to train and get his ideas and principles.

“Even off the pitch as well, spending time with each, it’s a great bunch of lads here and we like spending time with each other which shows on the pitch.”

Travis has been a virtual ever present, and started the season in impressive form, with goals in wins over QPR and Swansea City.

He feels his form took a dip leading into the break, which he is hoping to rediscover upon the resumption.

He said: “It’s been tough, but I’ve enjoyed it.

“I think I started the season better than I finished the games before, so I think this break will have done me the world of good and I feel ready to play at my maximum.”

One of five central midfield options, Academy graduate Travis has assumed the responsibility of the captaincy, but also the role of senior figure in the middle of the park.

“I’ve played with a lot of senior players, experienced players, Stewy Downing, Bradley Johnson, Corry Evans, Richie Smallwood, and I’ve taken bits of what they did and tried to put them into my game and I think that’s shown.

“I’ve always thought myself as one of the youngest, but I’ve played a lot of games now and I do think that I can help.”

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