COVENTRY are an old team of mine. I know the never-say-die team spirit they've got there and I know they'll keep going until the fat lady sings.

Unfortunately, when she started singing, it was the Sky Blues who were celebrating, and Rovers were left wondering where it went so badly wrong.

To be honest, it's hard to pick the bones out of it. I think it just all went wrong.

We've been playing with a consistent 11 to 13 players all season and when Mark Hughes has gone and changed things it's shown that there are four or five players who aren't ready for this level.

There were definitely a few who were caught short on Saturday.

It's not a result I expected, although I watched Coventry play against Manchester United at Old Trafford and United underestimated them and played their young stars.

Coventry went there and upset them and beat them 2-1.

I honestly didn't think it could happen again even when I saw the Blackburn team with four or five changes. But it's backfired.

This was a big chance for some of the squad players, but I'm afraid they haven't done enough to convince Hughes on that showing and I think he'll have a headache if any of his first team players are out injured.

It was only a matter of eight weeks ago when we were talking about how well Rovers were doing.

I work in the media and people were taking notice of the job Mark and his players were doing.

There was even talk of breaking into the top six.

All of a sudden the plug's been pulled.

Rovers are out of the Carling Cup, out of the FA Cup and they've had an unsteady time of it over the festive period in the league.

Mark must be scratching his head at the moment.

I'm just hoping they don't go any further downhill.

The players have got to sit down and take a long hard look at themselves.

Mark has obviously gone ballistic at them and he'll be wanting a response.

It's up to them to show him and the fans that they've got the character to do that.