Blackburn Rovers' defeat at Huddersfield Town was their worst of the season and the most concerning too.

Jon Dahl Tomasson was quick to acknowledge the terrible manner of their 3-0 reverse against a team battling relegation. He apologised to the 3,000 supporters who made the trip down the M62 and, by and large, stuck behind the team for the entirety of the match.

Plenty could've left early - and would have been justified - but instead went for the misery loves company approach. Comedy chanting filled the last 20 minutes.

'We've had a shot' and other unprintable songs were the background for a match that was over by the 70th minute. It's hard to know what was more troubling, the three goals or the none-event of the final 25 minutes.

READ MORE: Scott Wharton injury update

When Rovers have lost heavily this season, it has generally been against top-class opposition. The 'big four' have all beaten Tomasson's side relatively comfortably, though only Southampton absolutely battered them. When a result like that happens against a far superior team, you have to put your hands up and say 'fair enough'.

But there were no excuses for the display at the John Smith's Stadium. Rovers' squad was strengthened by three returning players and the starting XI put out was more than good enough to win the match.

I actually said pre-match 'this is probably Rovers' strongest team without the long-term injuries'. I was proven well and truly wrong.

The most puzzling thing was the pattern of the match. Blackburn actually started quite brightly in the first 15 minutes and had all of the ball, without really troubling Huddersfield's goal. The Terriers had a couple of counters but looked very limited, bereft of confidence and a poor side, in truth.

Rovers did the exact opposite of what you should do in that scenario. They retreated and gave Huddersfield encouragement. They took more touches, moved the ball slowly and passed backwards and sideward, urging the hosts to press them higher.

There were no runs in-behind and that meant the opposition could squeeze higher and higher up the pitch. Rovers played completely into their hands.

Conceding the opening goal only added to that. Leopold Wahlstedt should do far better, there is no defending him. The shot is straight at him, it's not exactly a ferocious strike and it was a costly error. It would be fair to argue he's cost them four, if not six, points over the last two matches.

The defending is pretty woeful too, nobody goes out to close the ball down, which was a theme throughout. Callum Brittain and Hayden Carter really struggled down Rovers' right side.

Carter was given a run around by Delano Burgzorg, who easily got behind him for the second too. Brittain was robbed by Jack Rudoni for the third, with two simple passes leading to Burgzorg getting on the scoresheet.

Rovers gave away terrible goals at Huddersfield and we can't say it's a one-off. They have the second-worst defensive record in the Championship and we're past the half-way mark in the season.

There will be changes at Hull City and rightly so. James Hill should come in, whether that's at right-back or for Carter, depending on the fitness of Scott Wharton. If he's fit, both should come out.

Jake Garrett was unlucky to lose his place and certainly deserves a run in the team. Lewis Travis put his hand up too, though how you fit them both in alongside Adam Wharton isn't obvious. Probably with the captain at right-back or in a lop-sided wide-right role he occupied in the second half.

Nobody came out with any credit on Boxing Day, that's for sure. The lack of alternatives on the bench has arguably led to a lack of competition for places in the squad. They were bullied and out-battled by a team, with no disrespect, who are one of the worst in the Championship.

That's happened before under Tomasson. Fans don't need reminding of the 4-0 drubbing at Rotherham United in January.

They will need to show far more fight and spirit at Hull if they're to get anything other than another spanking.