Tony Mowbray accepts Rovers have things to iron out, but admits it’s been difficult to get the necessary time on the training ground to implement them.

Tomorrow’s game at Swansea is Rovers’ fifth match in the space of 14 days, and they face two more next week before the international break which follows the home game with QPR.

Mowbray says preparation time hasn’t been helped by recent long away trips to Watford, which came three days before the Coventry fixture, while Rovers will be back training tomorrow ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Middlesbrough.

It’s a rigorous Championship schedule and why Mowbray felt the deadline day signings were so essential in a bid to boost both the quality, and numbers, within the squad.

He said: “We have to tidy up some things and that’s what we’re working on. It’s hard because the time is so short and you have to be conscious of the physical demands on footballers.

“They have a five hour bus journey to go to Wales, they’ll get back in the early back hours of the morning on Sunday and then they’ll have to be in to break down that game and prepare for Tuesday night.

“That’s been happening. We got back from Watford at 3.30 in the morning on Thursday and then played a game on the Saturday.

“It’s not an easy period, but everyone is doing it. The turnover of players is high because of the Covid situation and the injuries on top of that.”

While players will likely welcome the hectic schedule given their preference for matches over training, Mowbray says managers would also side with the extra preparation.

Four players are expected to be away with their countries on international duty, but that will give Mowbray time to work with some of his squad during the two-week break, albeit recovery time will be factored into that.

“Managers want to prepare their team, organise the tactics, make sure they are getting the right balance. Footballers generally don’t want to train, do the warm-ups, the extra bits of running, they just want to play five-a-side,” Mowbray added.

“But you need to be on the training pitch to show them things so you take those excuses away.

“Football is about planning, preparing and then going and doing it.

“At the moment it’s very difficult to plan and prepare.”

Meanwhile, there have been the same number of home wins as away this season, with Rovers having more points on the road than they do at Ewood Park so far.

Wins at Derby and Coventry mean Rovers have chalked up six of their 10 points away from home, and they will look to extend that at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

Five teams are yet to win any of their opening four home matches, with Preston, notoriously strong at Deepdale, have failed to score a goal. Reading became the second team to beat Rovers at home this season, despite Mowbray’s men having lost two of their previous 15 Ewood fixtures.

The absence of fans has undoubtedly played a part, but Mowbray feels that has taken away from the home team, rather than given the visiting side any advantage.

Indeed, Mowbray says he won’t be preparing his side any different for a game behind closed doors as he would were Rovers facing a raucous home crowd.

He said: “The team just go and prepare, the difference is that it’s not the same generally when you get there, you’re going through the same doors, your bus doesn’t park at the same place, you don’t get the same dressing room, you don’t come out in the same  part of the stadium.

“It’s all a bit new, but I think the negative is for the home team without their supporters.

“Is there an advantage for the away team? Only in that there’s not an advantage for the home team.

“We just go and play the football match and yet the statistics are there to see, people can break down the number of away wins.

“I don’t think there’s an advantage playing away, it’s just down to the teams on the day and you have to take the home advantage of the crowd heightening the intensity out of it.”