MARK Hughes hailed the performance of Zurab Khizanishvili after the Georgian international proved an able replacement for Chris Samba yesterday.

With Samba absent due to a suspension, Hughes put his trust in Khizanishvili, who was handed his first Premier League start since March.

And the Rovers chief thought the versatile defender acquitted himself well overall, in what was a difficult situation.

"I thought Zurab did well in the circumstances," said Hughes, whose side were beaten 1-0.

"Obviously, he hasn't had a great deal of football recently - that was his first Premiership start in fairness - but I thought he came in and did really well for us.

"To be fair, I thought there was a big improvement in the way we defended, and I also thought our general concentration was better.

"As I've said before, it's not just down to the back four, it's right through the team, and I just felt the performance as a whole was at the level I was expecting and hoping for today."

After a bright start, Rovers then fell behind to a strike from Joe Cole in the 22nd minute, which proved to be the winner.

Hughes' side have now lost four games on the spin in all competitions, and they have only won one in nine since Hughes was named manager of the month for October.

However, the Rovers chief is convinced his players' luck will change - and sooner rather than later.

"It will turn around," he added.

"We are currently six or seven points better off than we were at this stage last season, so we are still very much ahead of the game.

"The second half of the season is always our stronger half.

"We've been through a period of late where we've faced a lot of the top teams but this period will pass, and we've got teams coming up who are at the other end of the table.

"That's when we really need to pick up points.

"Obviously, we are disappointed with the return we've had recently, but I think we showed everyone the qualities that we do have today.

"We just need to get our noses in front and start winning games."