Blackburn Rovers' mitigating factors won't wash this week

Rovers' Sunday was not a fun-day, as Leicester City's Premier League squad inflicted another defeat at Ewood Park. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side competed for 80 minutes with two late goals making a 4-1 scoreline look worse than the reality.

But the truth is Leicester did have Blackburn at arm's length for most of the second half. They allowed Rovers to have the ball and probe, content in their defensive structure.

The big moment was of course Lewis Travis' golden chance at 2-1. The skipper forced Mads Hermansen into a good save whilst Sam Szmodics' rebound was blocked. That was the closest they came to an equaliser.

WATCH: Elliott Jackson reviews Blackburn Rovers 1-4 Leicester City

Without a natural striker, Rovers lacked width and variation in their attacking movement. Although they saw plenty of the ball, the Foxes were content to funnel them centrally. There was not a mass of openings with four attacking players who all offered similar skill sets.

In the first half, Rovers had a little more joy. They pressed high when Leicester tried to play out or when the ball went backwards and that yielded the first goal. Tomasson's tactics were working and Rovers looked a threat when they got the ball back in the first 20 minutes.

Andrew Moran was the brightest Rovers player. He caused Leicester issues in the first half, taking the ball in tight spaces, on the half-turn, and committing defenders. 

The issue with playing against a Premier League side in all but name is that they wise up quicker than your average second-tier set of players. Rovers adopted a structured man-marking system when out of possession, not wanting to be picked off by the Foxes' quick passing.

It created a very strange optic where Jannik Vestergaard would just be allowed to have the ball with nobody pressing him. He would quite often be stood on the halfway line unopposed. Not particularly an issue but it obviously created a little frustration around the stadium.

So once they went back in front, they didn't fall for the same trick twice. Again, it's another really soft goal to give away, as was the first. Whilst I've seen some suggestions that Aynsley Pears could do better, you have to look at the centre-backs, who aren't tight enough to the goal-scorers.

READ MORE: Tomasson explains Blackburn Rovers' defensive struggles

The opener is not the first time Rovers have given away a set-piece goal of that ilk. Against Ipswich, Harry Clarke fired in after they failed to clear their lines. Sunderland, similar, as Dan Neil took full advantage.

It's also the second game running that they have conceded in the first five minutes. That doesn't come down to systems or tactics, it's personnel not concentrating from minute one. Those are the avoidable goals that Rovers simply have to cut out.

The third is similar, a lack of concentration, not being switched on when the ball is dead and Vestergaard gets a run on Carter. Penalty. Game over.

Carter has been superb for Rovers in 2023 but he has dropped below his usual high standards in the last 10 days. I think it is time for the defence to get freshened up against Coventry City.

James Hill and Scott Wharton have been chomping at the bit to get an opportunity. They have a fair reason to ask 'why not' when Rovers have leaked 16 goals in five games.

I think Hill is the most likely to come in against the Sky Blues and partner Dom Hyam. I'd also be tempted to recall Joe Rankin-Costello and move Callum Brittain to the opposite side.

If Rovers are lacking width in attack in the absence of a proper number nine, they need the attacking threats from full-back. Harry Pickering is another player whose levels have dipped and a breather will do him no harm.

The biggest dilemma is probably in midfield. Adam Wharton looks like he could maybe benefit from a rest but do Rovers have a player who can replace him? Sondre Tronstad has barely been seen in the Championship since the opening-day win over West Brom.

Another alternative would be to drop Lewis Travis deeper alongside Wharton into a 4-2-3-1, rather than the 4-3-3 shape they have used. It could offer more protection.

It looks like Leopold Walhstedt will get an opportunity to showcase his credentials too. Pears' extent of Pears' ankle injury is unknown but it would be a surprise if he was fit to play any part at Coventry or indeed QPR.

This feels like a big week for Rovers. Excuses can be made for the individual errors and the quality of the opponents they've faced. Sunderland, Ipswich and Leicester are three of the top four sides in the table after nine games.

The same can't be said for Coventry and Queens Park Rangers. That's not to be disrespectful, they pose their own threats, but more of the same won't wash this week.

Rovers need to turn some doubters into believers this week and they have the games to do it.