It just had to be Coventry, didn’t it? If the unbeaten league start was going to end anywhere, it was at the CBS Arena on Tuesday night.

I don’t know how or why they have our number but they do! Just the one league victory in eleven at their place now, and no victory against them at Ewood in six games. Our perennial bogey team came back to haunt us yet again as Rovers went out with a real whimper.  

Second-best to everything on the night, and deservedly well-beaten, it was a far cry from what we’ve seen from Eustace’s men so far this season.

But let’s put it in the “forget and move on” category and not over-analyse it too much. A bad day at the office for sure, but we should remain proud of entering October unbeaten in the league, especially on the back of a season to forget last season. Eustace has Rovers sat on much firmer ground now.  

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The beauty of Championship football is the quick opportunity to respond. But like Tuesday night this is another fixture where, had we come away from the CBS Arena with the unbeaten start intact, I would have been worrying about it ending. Yes, it will only be our third league visit in 32 years, but on the previous two occasions, we were truly humbled. One of those occasions I got the ‘pleasure’ of experiencing too!   

Had we recorded the Arte et Labore podcast this week (back on Monday after a busy schedule), I’m sure Elliott would have indulged me about my trip to Home Park.

That wonderful League One season provided the perfect opportunity for some serious ground-ticking on our away days. As a long-distance Rovers fan and before my kids were old enough, I was often reliant on non-Rovers mates coming with me if I wanted to avoid a solo trip.

Of course, the line was drawn by my mates with a twelve-hour return journey for a League One fixture so off I went on my own - but with every reason to be confident. Rovers on the back of a 17-game unbeaten spell and really motoring forward in our promotion charge. I think only Oldham away that season can rival what was a truly terrible performance.

A deserved 2-0 defeat - why Rovers decided to save that for the thousand or so that had ground-ticked that day I will never know. I just laughed at full-time, remembering the six-hour journey back on my own.  

All joking aside, we know it will be another tough encounter in Devon on Saturday. Admirable home victories against table-toppers Sunderland and Luton in the last two games have got their season started for sure and they present a real danger.

I watched their game against Luton last Friday night and they are full of energy going forward on the break. At Norwich earlier this season, and Coventry on Tuesday, we were particularly exposed through the middle with players running at us.

A key danger man in this regard will be Ibrahim Cissoko who came off the bench and really exposed Luton in that second half. Expect more of the same if Rovers don’t get their act together in the middle. Add in the threat of Morgan Whittaker and they are a side that needs our due care and attention if we are to get a result.  

Entering another international break in the top six would be a magnificent achievement for Eustace and his team. Indeed, coming away from Home Park with just one defeat in nine would still represent an extremely solid start for Rovers.  

I will finish the column this week by looking back to last weekend. After struggling against ten-men for a half at Deepdale the weekend before, I’ve got to salute Eustace for learning those lessons and a well-thought-out change at half-Time.

Introducing Todd Cantwell into a free role and switching Ryan Hedges to left-back proved to be a masterstroke and unlocked an excellent attacking display.

As Preston proved, playing against ten men can sometimes be more difficult. Seeing Rovers dominate the second half and the wonderful cameo from Cantwell made it a very enjoyable afternoon indeed.

Four wins from four for the first time since 94/95 was the perfect salute in this anniversary season. Safe journey to all the Rovers fans making the long slog down to Devon!