Appleton not exactly pleased

Rovers manager Michael Appleton has admitted that his first taste of matchday at Ewood has left him frustrated, after suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Charlton on Saturday.

Rovers were borderline woeful on the day and left the pitch to a chorus of boos after a performance so devoid of passion and cohesion you had to wonder if the players had only just met each other the night before.

But despite the blow on the chin, Appleton insists that he has learnt a lot about his players in defeat, something which will stand him in good stead in the long run.

'It was frustrating, but it was helpful,' Appleton told the Rovers official website.

'It has given me an idea of the players who are going to be able to cope with the pressures that come with playing for the football club.

'I've just said to the players that we are a big fish in a smaller pond to what they were used to playing in last and previous seasons and you've got to be able to cope with the pressures that come with that.

'You've got to be brave, you've got to want to get on the ball, you've got to play with an urgency and we struggled a little bit today with that.

'Also you've to keep it nice and tight and the goals that we've given away, one is a wonder strike, but the second one was disappointing to concede.'

If only there was an earlyish opportunity to respond hey chaps? Say tomorrow night?

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.