It is a story which is becoming all too familiar for Rovers on the road this season, with an inability to defend their box seeing good work and plenty of endeavour undone.

With 42 goals conceded in 19 away games, no team has conceded more away from home.

Their defensive deficiencies can be summed up by taking one point from their last five away games, with Rovers scoring twice in four of them.

Tony Mowbray admitted the faults are there for everyone to see, but his job is to cure them.  He again pointed to being without three central defenders, but the root cause could well be a lot deeper.

Darragh Lenihan has undoubtedly been a miss, but he has also been a mainstay of the defence that has regularly shipped goals and caved under pressure.

Indeed, Lenihan’s return alone is unlikely to bring about a drastic turnaround in fortunes, and neither will that of Charlie Mulgrew and Jack Rodwell which means there has to be a mentality issue attached.

Stripping down the four goals, they were worryingly avoidable and all at points in the game that really set Rovers back.

Ten minutes in, Derrick Williams allowed Dominic Iorfa’s cross to reach Steven Fletcher at the far post, as the experienced frontman took advantage of a moments hesitation from youngster Tyler Magloire.

The second goal, while Rovers were on top, was worryingly simplistic, as a Barry Bannan free kick was headed home from six yards out by all 6’5” of striker Adthe Nuhiu.

Then, no sooner had Craig Conway reduced the arrears with a first time finish after good work from Joe Rothwell, than Wednesday restored their two goal cushion as defender Dominic Iorfa pounced when Rovers failed to clear their lines 10 minutes from time.

Of the 13 away matches since the 1-0 win at Bolton on October 6, Rovers have conceded at least three goals on eight occasions. For the fourth time this season they shipped four or more goals as Marco Matias' strike found a way under David Raya.

That ended the game as a contest, despite a first of the season for captain for the day Elliott Bennett who was one of the players who stuck to his task well throughout.

Men against boys, physically, was how Mowbray described the game, and there was a concern every time the ball went in to the Rovers area. In the middle third, they were neat and tidy in possession and didn’t show any signs of waning confidence, given their recent run.

But they will be judged on results, and what happens in both boxes, and seven defeats in nine Championship matches, and four points from a possible 27 since January has to set alarm bells ringing, even with the injury worries.

For all their intricate approach play, two Bradley Dack efforts from inside the box which drew saves from Keiran Westwood, was all that Rovers had to show for their attacking intent in the first half.

And despite Wednesday having little of the ball, they could have scored more than the one goal they did, as Michael Hector headed against the post during a real 10 minute wobble Rovers had after Fletcher’s goal.

As has become custom for Rovers of late, there was a change of play after the opening 15 minutes as a back three became a four.

That brought them even more control of the ball, with the second half bringing about a golden opportunity for Danny Graham, only to head wide a cross from Joe Rothwell who provided some life to the Rovers attack. But poor marking didn't give them chance to build on Conway's strike.

The priority of the two week break which follows this defeat has to be on getting central defenders back fit. In the summer, it has to be on getting to position where a couple of injuries doesn't leaves them so fragile.