There are concerning patterns developing at Rovers which need ironing out.

Whether it be their reliance on Danny Graham, Bradley Dack and Charlie Mulgrew for goals, an inability to convert winning positions or a tendency to ship goals in the final 20 minutes of matches or in quick succession, there are problems for Tony Mowbray to solve.

A defence, almost identical to that of the 2016/17 relegation campaign, has now shipped 40 goals in 25 games, the same number as at the same stage in their previous Championship season. 

But so too needs to come the perspective. They are seven points, and places, better off than this time two years ago, and are proving to be competitive in almost every match, illustrated by their number of draws.

They suffered three successive defeats for just the second time under Mowbray, coming against three of the top four sides in the division.

The dropped points in successive games against Middlesbrough and Birmingham are being rued more by the passing week, not to mention the Boxing Day defeat at Leeds United.

The manager is more than aware of the areas to address, but the players also need to be taking more responsibility and improve on a mentality which has seen them appear fragile at times.

The talk before kick off was of a bold team selection, showing seven changes, with no Dack or Graham and first starts of the season for Ben Brereton and Lewis Travis.

With Dack and Graham on the bench, Mulgrew, with seven, had more goals than the rest of the starting line-up put together.

And he would go close twice in the opening 25 minutes from free kicks. The first, via a deflection, curled just wide of the post with Dean Henderson rooted to the spot, while from an almost identical position, he was denied by the post with Henderson again beaten.

His left foot also set up a decent chance for central defensive partner Darragh Lenihan, only for him to curl over.

The woodwork was also rattled at the other end, Enda Stevens crashing an effort against the underside of the bar as the hosts created a two-v-one situation on their left, before David Raya held on to long-range efforts from both Stevens and Mark Duffy.

Rovers, with a new-look three man midfield, would have been the more encouraged at the break, and were handed the initiative when referee Anthony Taylor, who booked three players in the opening half an hour, sent off Chris Basham.

That man advantage would last 20 minutes, the majority of which was Rovers trying to find a way to play out from the back.

Their best chance came when Kasey Palmer’s cross found its way to Derrick Williams who drew a smart save from Dean Henderson.

The official, who gave several mystifying decisions throughout, took centre stage shortly afterwards when he pulled out the red card without hesitation as Billy Sharp was caught by a Richie Smallwood tackle, in which his team-mate Elliott Bennett came off worst.

The Blades were then rewarded for their bold approach in keeping two strikers on the pitch as Rovers collapsed in nine minutes.

Bennett should have done more with his header in the lead up to Sharp’s opener, which owed much to the poor positioning of Lenihan in failing to cut out the danger.

Mulgrew and Williams were then caught out by a simple ball over the top, with Sharp’s early shot catching Raya off guard as he could only palm in to the corner.

It was getting ugly for Rovers by the time David McGoldrick made it 3-0, turning in from close range after more hapless defending.

Next up? The league’s top scorers West Bromwich Albion.