Tony Mowbray says he ‘won’t allow strops’ as he weighs up changes to his starting XI for the visit of Preston tomorrow.

Goalkeeper David Raya and captain Charlie Mulgrew, regulars in the side under the boss, are among those whose form has dipped during a disappointing run of results which has seen Rovers go six games without a win.

Rovers’ defensive struggles have seen them slip to 17th in the table ahead of the visit of Preston - the first of three games in seven days before the international break - which Mowbray said will also come into his thinking when deciding his starting XI.

He said: “Generally, they (the players) don’t complain. I’ve tried to create an environment where they know this is a squad game and when I leave people out I wouldn’t allow strops from footballers.

“They are part of the group, part of the team, they’re a cog in the wheel.

“If we make changes, we make changes. And in a three game week you can make changes because you realise some players aren’t able to have the energy levels you want for three games over the course of a week.

“You make the calls of who you’re leaving out, who you’re going to rest for the next game in three days’ time, which players can do back-to-back games.

“Some games you need more energy than others, because of the different types of teams who play at a different intensity.

“You address each game, the players have to focus on the next game and I will focus on trying to pick the players to try and win the next game.”

Mowbray has changed personnel and formation in recent weeks in a bid to arrest the poor run. But after the 3-2 reverse at Rotherham last weekend, the boss says it comes down to the character and emotion of those on the field.

On whether he has decided on his plans for Saturday, the boss said: “I don’t have to make those decisions until Friday when we do the final team preparations.

“I sleep on a lot of decisions, because the team is the most important thing. You have to get beyond the delicacies of individual players and their own personal situations.

“Ultimately the team has to function and win games.

“As a manager, every time you lose you’ve probably made loads of wrong decisions, but when you win no-one comments.

“That’s the job, we all know it, understand it and get on with it.”