Rovers suffered a second successive 3-0 defeat on their travels as Sheffield United proved far too strong at Bramall Lane.
Oliver Norwood’s free-kick had the hosts ahead at half time before two goals in the second half from substitute Iliman Ndiaye added the gloss for the hosts.
Rovers, eyeing a response after defeat by a similar scoreline at Reading, were outgunned throughout and despite being only five games into the season had a patched-up look to them by the final whistle.
They looked out on their feet and ragged and like a team in need of reinforcements, with the next few days being pivotal to their hopes this season.
Jon Dahl Tomasson will have been well aware of the task at hand even after the three successive wins to start the season, and little has changed after back-to-back defeats on that front, apart from the need being more pressing with only 10 days of the transfer window remaining.
Issues have arisen at both ends of the pitch, with 17-year-old Ash Phillips thrust into action for the fourth time in 10 days, while Rovers again not only failed to score, but trouble the opposition ‘keeper.
There was a change in personnel and system, as Tayo Edun and Sam Gallagher came into the side for Tyrhys Dolan and Jack Vale.
That meant a switch to a three-man defence as Jon Dahl Tomasson looked to match up the Blades and go with a back three system.
In truth, it was more of a five-man backline for Rovers who were penned back inside their own half from the first whistle.
Lewis Travis appeared to be trying to do a man-marking job on Sander Berge, while Sam Szmodics was tasked with stopping Ollie Norwood building the Blades’ attacks.
Yet with Szmodics Rovers’ most advanced attacker, for long spells they operated with a 5-5-0 formation as they worked just to try and contain the Blades.
Having looked vulnerable from set pieces in the midweek defeat at Reading, Rovers came under pressure from a succession of early corners.
The return of Gallagher aided Rovers in the height department, but they almost fell behind with just six minutes on the clock as John Fleck’s inswinging delivery was turned goalwards and palmed away by a reflex Thomas Kaminski save.
Harry Pickering was close to turning into his own goal from a Norwood delivery from the left, moments after a fine intervention from Daniel Ayala stopped Anel Ahmedhodzic getting a shot away as he was found clear of the Rovers defence.
There was a feeling of inevitability to the hosts taking the lead, denied in the 17th minute by an excellent goal-line block by the covering Ash Phillips as Oli McBurnie looked set to turn into the empty net after Kaminski had blocked Fleck’s effort.
That meant Rovers managed to negotiate the opening 20 minutes, but only just, as they struggled for a foothold in the game, offering precious little in attack.
McBurnie headed over the top from a Max Lowe cross, under pressure from Harry Pickering who was being utilised in an unfamiliar central defensive role.
The deadlock was eventually broken just after the half hour mark from a set piece, albeit from a 25-yard direct free kick.
Norwood lined up an effort and curled an effort to the right of Kaminski who was unmoved as the ball nestled in the corner.
The midfielder was clearly feeling confident as he lined up an effort from even further out which had Kaminski worried as it fizzed over the bar.
It was one-way traffic as when Rovers did win the ball back, they were pressed hard by the hosts which forced them back to goalkeeper Kaminski time and again.
Tomasson sent his side out early for the second half, and while they were unchanged, there was a switch in the formation.
Edun moved into midfield, and Pickering to left back, as Rovers returned to their usual back four.
There looked to be more of a purpose for Rovers at the start of the second half, Travis taking aim from 25 yards in the 53rd minute as his shot flashed narrowly wide of the post with Wes Foderingham scrambling across his goal.
The threat on the break was clear though, with former Rovers loanee Khadra in the Blades ranks. He ran clear 60 seconds later, but waited too long to get a shot away allowing Ayala to get back to clear.
It was at least now a contest as Rovers now began to engage the Blades more, but they were indebted to Kaminski to keeping them in it.
Rovers once again looked uncomfortable from set plays, the ball kept alive by the hosts as it ran through for McBurnie who was denied by a flying Kaminski save.
The pair would come face-to-face from the next attack, McBurnie found unmarked in the six-yard box, but Kaminski was again equal to his strike as he came quickly off his line.
Both sides made changes in quick succession as the game ticked towards the final quarter, Iliman Ndiaye replacing Reda Khadra as Dolan was sent on in place of Szmodics.
Despite the scoreline, the waves of pressure were still coming from the hosts who looked for a second goal to put the game out of reach.
Phillips had to be replaced, with Rovers forced into another defensive reshuffle, before the Blades did get the second goal their pressure had threatened.
With 18 minutes remaining, McBurnie got to the byline to pull the ball back for Berge whose shot was deflected into the net by substitute Ndiaye.
There was controversy over the goal, with Rovers protesting about first the ball being out of play when McBurnie played it, and then Ndiaye being in an offside position when touching home.
There was no doubt about Ndiaye’s second, and the Blades’ third however. From the moment Travis lost the ball just inside the Blades half, the substitute took up the attack, beat the sliding challenge of Pickering, went outside of Ayala and bent a shot out of the reach of Kaminski and into the net via the post.
Kaminski stopped it getting worse saving three times from Brewster in the space of five minutes as the Blades looked to finish with a flourish.
Sheffield United: Fotheringham, Baldock (Basham, 76), Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Norrington-Davies, Lowe, Norwood, Fleck, Berge (Doyle, 83), Khadra (Ndiaye, 64), McBurnie (Brewster, 83)
Subs: Amassah, McAtee, Jebbison
Rovers: Kaminski, Brittain, Phillips (Morton, 70), Ayala, Pickering, Edun, Travis, Buckley, Gallagher, Szmodics (Dolan, 65), Brereton
Subs: Pears, Rankin-Costello, Markanday, Dack, Vale
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