DEFENDER Stephen Warnock has admitted that the shock defeat at the hands of Wigan Athletic back in December forced the players to take a long hard look at how they were performing.

Rovers were turned over 5-3 at the JJB Stadium by Steve Bruce's side that day, but since then the side has improved with just defeats by Chelsea and Arsenal from that point.

"If you look at the last five or six games, when we went unbeaten, I think we've been a lot more solid defensively and we've conceded fewer goals," admitted the Rovers defender.

"That's down to a lot of hard work because we were very disappointed with ourselves after the Wigan game.

"Things just fell to pieces that day but sometimes it takes a bad defeat to really pick you up and make you think you've got to turn things around.

"Personally, I had an absolute nightmare that day and it really embarrassed me and I knew I had to change things and pick my game up.

"And I don't think I was the only one on the pitch who thought that day things have got to change. I think you can see with the whole team that we've picked up and we've had a good look at ourselves because we know we are better than we showed that day."

Rovers slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, but it was an otherwise excellent team performance despite the result.

"I think against Arsenal we showed what a good defensive unit we've got at the back, and it's not just the back four, it's the lads who are working in front of us to make our job easier.

"I think we just got away from working as a team and it possibly just got a little bit individual, with people working when they felt like it.

"I think we got into the habit of thinking that we were a good team and we didn't think we had to win the ball back; we were just waiting to get the ball back and then we could play.

"But I think we've now got back to what we do best and hopefully we can push on after this game, take heart from our performance, and go on another unbeaten run."

Rovers are next in action a week on Sunday when Bolton are the visitors to Ewood Park. Tickets for this game are on open sale and priced from £15 for Adults, £10 for Seniors and Club 16-21 Members and just £7 for Juniors. Book online or call the ticket office on 0871 222 1444 for further details.