Bowyer blasts subpar Rovers

Rovers manager Gary Bowyer fired a rocket up his players after Saturday afternoon’s abject 4-0 surrender to Bolton at the Reebok stadium.

Rovers were almost universally off colour, with the home side deserving victors in a contest that Rovers rarely threatened to make an equal one.

Despite losing both centre backs, one pre-match, one whilst in progress, the excuses were limited for a side that weren’t at the races.

“There are no excuses. We can`t perform like we did against Reading and then a week later come here for a local derby and perform like that,’ Bowyer told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“We demanded passion but I don`t think we got enough from the players on that.

“Obviously the centre-half position didn`t help but no excuses. When you pull on the jersey for Rovers we expect more than what we got.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Bowyer was adamant that the first goal was a crucial event. But with Burnley on the horizon in 6 days excuses and the minor details will count for very little if Rovers cannot lift their levels way past what was on show at Bolton.

Bowyer said – “I think the first goal was crucial. Their keeper has made two outstanding saves and then we`ve conceded four poor goals from the standards we`ve set ourselves.”

“I was hugely disappointed for them (the in excess of 2000 fans in the away end) because they turned out in their thousands and they were very vocal.

“They continued to back us in the second half and I thank them for that and they can rest assured we are as angry as them if not more so.”