Players on the mend to halt defensive worries

Rovers manager Steve Kean continued his love affair with the interviewer by telling us in his now seemingly daily update that Rovers are due to welcome back more senior players ahead of the game with Chelsea at the weekend.

Rovers have been without more experienced heads like Dave Dunn (who was back at the weekend), Michel Salgado, Ryan Nelsen and Scott Dann for a few games now and Kean believes their return will bring some steel to the back four and to the defensive side of Rovers game.

Rovers have let two goal leads slip in the last two games with a slump against Newcastle in the Carling Cup and a blast of misfortune at Norwich on Saturday.

But wiser heads means wiser times on the pitch according to Kean.

The Rovers boss told the Lancashire Telegraph – “The players aren`t scared. What we need to know is sometimes with a young team, we might just need to see it out a bit better.

“I am screaming at them to get it in the corners and we might get a free kick or a throw in and run the clock down. Maybe that is something we have to look at when we go ahead.

“We have got Dunny on the pitch, he hasn`t got 100 per cent fitness yet, but we need players like Dunny, Ryan Nelsen, Michel Salgado and Scott Dann.

“These players have played the game and near the end would be able to help us take the sting out of it.

“Maybe we paid the penalty for too many waves of attack towards the end of the game because we are still trying to score another goal.”

The manager also insisted that Rovers will not hoof their way out of trouble as the on the deck style of play which has bought about mixed reviews so far will continue as it suits players like Junior Hoilett and Ruben Rochina.

Steve Kean, microphone snogger continued – “We are going to keep playing because that is the way our players are and that is what we are best at.

“I don`t think if you have Formica, Rochina and Hoilett, then those type of guys are going to be all about tackles and scrapping.

“It is about trying to get the ball, trying to get it wide and get a two versus one situation. That is the way we play.

“People have been saying we are conceding too many goals and I would agree with that, but the two Norwich goals were fortunate.

“I don`t think anyone can aim anything but praise at the way the lads are playing for each other. We are a tight group and we will go again against Chelsea.”