THINGS looked so promising for Rovers at the start of the week but they ended it, and 2019, with plenty of questions to answer.

A near fully-fit squad has started to creak, and while the schedule has certainly played its part, a settled side has now been chopped and change.

At Huddersfield they saw their unbeaten run come to an end after eight games, failing to build on a promising start handed to them by Danny Graham’s early opener. 

Jon Goran Stankovic levelled things up less than 20 minutes later before a Steve Mounie stunner was Rovers’ undoing in the final quarter.

Tony Mowbray chopped and changed personnel, and formation, but Ben Brereton remained unused, as Sam Gallagher finished the game on the right wing, despite Rovers needing to find an equaliser.

In a packed fixture list, with Rovers in action again on New Year’s Day, there is little time to iron out the cracks that have appeared during a disappointing week.

Rovers, the kings of the early goal on the road this season, struck again, this time in the seventh minute. Graham peeled off his marker and placed a cushioned header beyond Kamil Grabara, via the post, from a Lewis Travis delivery.

There was a noticeable improvement in the quality of passing out from the back given the return from a two-match absence for on-loan Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo and Stewart Downing back in at left back.

He delivered a free-kick before Graham’s opener that ended with Sam Gallagher steering a shot goalwards that Grabara parried before gathering at the second attempt as a goalmouth scramble ensued.

The hosts grew in to the game though and Rovers were soon coming under pressure. Much of it was down to their own making, with Karlan Grant drawing a low save out of Christian Walton who was a relieved man moments later.

Danger stemmed from the moment Adarabioyo missed his kick, with Elias Kachunga overhitting his cross that almost worked to perfection as it looped over the head of the Rovers ‘keeper before coming back off the crossbar. 

Those chances had given the hosts a foothold in the game, and a sense of injustice in the 22nd minute got the home fans fully involved in it. Darragh Lenihan looked to have taken Grant’s legs from underneath him, only for referee Andy Woolmer to wave away penalty appeals.

Town boss Danny Cowley was livid at the decision but his side wouldn’t be behind for long.

Rovers needed to try and take the sting out of the game, and stem the hosts’ flow, but a Juninho Bacuna free-kick in the 25th minute was met by an unmarked Stankovic who couldn’t miss from six yards.

Things had become a struggle for Rovers, Bradley Johnson among those looking a yard off the pace, with Joe Rothwell and John Buckley unable to influence the game from the flanks.

Bacuna volleyed over a Kachunga cross, before Rovers’ best move since the goal, started by excellent Adarabioyo and Graham passes, ended with Buckley’s shot hitting his own man.

Mowbray was incessant on the touchline, unhappy with the amount of space the hosts were picking up as Rovers became stretched. And that was demonstrated by two efforts from Grant late in the half, the first tipped behind by the fingertips of Walton and the second deflected wide by the retreating Travis.

Something had to change for Rovers, and it did at the break, Amari’i Bell replacing Joe Rothwell to allow Downing move in to midfield.

The break had come at a good time as things became more even at the start of the second half. A good move involving the impressive Travis, Gallagher and Buckley created an opening for the youngster, only for him to lash over from eight yards on the volley.

Adam Armstrong was the second change in a half that had become devoid of life, with Rovers hoping his extra pace could provide a spark.

But it was the hosts who struck, Mounie’s stunning 25-yard strike finding the top corner, a bright moment in a second half that had become a tough watch. It was a poor pass from Bennett that led to it, and Rovers were then forced to try and come from behind.

They could have been 3-1 behind, as Grant’s shot was saved by Walton, while substitute Fraizer Campbell went within a whisker of finding the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Rovers’ best opportunity came from a set play, Adarabioyo towering above everyone to meet a Downing corner, but Grabara was smartly across to palm it away.

Nine minutes of added time, in a game littered with fouls and stoppages offered hope, but in truth, Rovers’ approach in injury time somewhat summed up what was a disappointing afternoon.