No illusions for Berg now

Rovers manager Henning Berg got the baptism of fire we feared after a defeat started his Rovers reign off on the wrong foot with a 2-0 loss at Selhurst Park to a vibrant Crystal Palace.

Rovers were second best and deservedly lost but could the defeat actually come as a blessing in disguise for our new Norwegian gaffer?

The performance shed light on some key area of the fields which Berg needs to pay immediate attention to…

Central midfield – a real weak spot which you wouldn’t have thought would be the case at the start of the season with Murphy and Etuhu both very experienced and no mugs. But there is a real absence of legs in the battle station part of the pitch without Jason Lowe available.

Berg will need to find a way to plug the gaps.

Wingers – Short of Morten Pedersen and the until Saturday invisible Simon Vukcevic Rovers don’t really have any out and out wingers. There is talent there in the shape of Ruben Rochina, Mauro Formica and Colin Kazim-Richards but none of the above names are specialist wingers.

A formation to suit our lack of genuine width or a sneaky loan signing wouldn’t go a miss. Could be better than putting square pegs into round holes?

Jordan Rhodes – Genuine talent, but on more than one occasion this season starved of service. He’s often left alone to fight a lone battle up front without much support.

We need to find a way to give him something to feed off. More balls into the box from wide areas and someone alongside him just to give him a bit of help wouldn’t hurt.

With Murphy and Etuhu I don’t think 4-4-2 is going to suit, and with 4-5-1 Rhodes is left to his own devices.

There are conundrums to solve for Berg but at least he won’t be under any illusions that this will be an easy job.

But his animated touchline antics and willingness to try and correct mistakes already put him two steps ahead of his also bald predecessor.

It may take a few weeks for Berg to stamp his authority on this side but it’s time he deserves to have.