Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after their 2-1 derby loss at Preston North End. For a written selection of his quotes click here.
Image source, Getty ImagesBlackburn manager Tony Mowbray
Mowbray: 'We are much better than we showed today'
Watch Tony Mowbray's full press conference before Saturday's Lancashire derby against Preston
Blackburn Rovers right-back Ryan Alebiosu and captain Todd Cantwell are fit for Saturday's Lancashire derby at Preston North End - but head coach Tony Mowbray says 12 players are still unavailable.
Alebiosu and Cantwell have returned to full training after they both went off in the 0-0 draw at Lincoln City on Tuesday.
But following Tom Atcheson's red card against the Imps, Rovers are left with just one fit senior centre-back to face the Lilywhites, with Hayden Carter and Scott Wharton still out injured, while those who missed the trip in midweek also remain out.
Despite an early-season injury crisis, Mowbray said he is "pretty relaxed" and insisted he will be able to field a "really competitive" team at Deepdale (12:30 BST).
"We need to get some of these lads back over the next month or so and then I'll be even more comfortable," the 62-year-old told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We're putting what I feel is a pretty strong team out with 12 injuries as well.
"I know it's not ideal to have so many injuries to so many players that could make a difference to the team, but that's not going to be the case all season."
Mowbray said the speed of the modern game has become "so much quicker", which could be contributing to more injuries at every club.
"It feels unusual to have so many people down," Mowbray added. "There's lots of work being done behind the scenes regarding the medical and the sports science of how the training's looking, what we are doing, are we training too much?
"Is it just the volume of games - literally a game every three days for three weeks?
"That's what we're in the middle of at the moment - seven games in 21 days. And so my frustration as a coach is that we're not being able to train the team.
"We can't work on anything because you finish a game, you recover. And then you've got one day before you play the next game and so basically you're using video footage to try to get the gameplan across to the team."
Preston North End are seeking their first Championship points as they welcome Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).
The Lilywhites are yet to get their season started after four games, while Rovers are sitting in the midtable five points ahead.
Preston are winless in six home league games against Blackburn Rovers (D3 L3) since a 3-2 victory in October 2019 under Alex Neil.
Blackburn have won each of their last three league games against Preston, last winning four in a row against the Lilywhites in August 1919.
Preston are the only Championship side to lose each of their opening four matches this season, and are looking to avoid losing their opening five of a league campaign for just the third time, after 1924-25 and 1929-30.
Blackburn Rovers have only lost one of their last seven away games in the Championship (W3 D3), a 0-3 defeat to Southampton in April.
No side has had fewer high turnovers in the Championship than Blackburn this season (11), with Rovers also the only side yet to have a shot from a high turnover.
Mowbray: 'The maturity of the team was good'
Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after Tuesday's goalless draw at Lincoln City.
For a written selection of his quotes, click here.
Image source, ShutterstockSidnei Tavares had his season disrupted by injury in 2025-26
Blackburn Rovers midfielder Sidnei Tavares has joined Polish side Wisła Płock on a season-long loan deal with the option to buy.
The Portuguese midfielder will spend the remainder of the current campaign with the Polish top-flight club, who finished eighth in the Ekstraklasa last season.
Tavares originally signed from Portuguese side Moreirense last summer and featured 14 times for Rovers last season in a campaign disrupted by injury.
The 24-year-old started out at Leicester City and also had a loan spell in Colorado before moving to Portugal.
Image source, Getty ImagesTransfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.
The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST, so we might have some late night scrambles to get deals over the line.
There has already been plenty of movement this summer and whether it's a busy or quiet day for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.
Follow our EFL deadline day live text coverage throughout the day here
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Mowbray: 'There was lots of positives today'
Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray remained positive despite his side's 2-1 defeat against QPR.
The visitors came from behind to win at Ewood Park after Ryoya Morishita's spectacular strike had put Rovers ahead.
"I think there were lots of positives today," Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"We played against a good team - I thought we managed them pretty well, to be honest - and it was a really tight game. We had spells where we were pretty dominant, and they had moments too.
"I've said to them in the dressing room: 'Lots and lots of positives today'. If we can maintain the performance from the first 60 minutes for 90 [minutes], we'll be fine.
"It's a very quiet, disappointed dressing room, and yet I think if they stick together, there's enough spirit, togetherness and camaraderie to be competitive this season.
"I'm still here after a defeat, and it's hard to find words other than that I felt pretty proud of how they performed for the vast majority of the game.
"Let's take the positives — I've said that to them in the dressing room. We were really good for a lot of that game."
Image source, ShutterstockAxel Henriksson last made a competitive appearance for Blackburn on 17 January
Blackburn Rovers midfielder Axel Henriksson has joined Randers on loan for the rest of the season.
The 24-year-old joined the Championship side from Swedish team Gais last August and made 18 league appearances last season.
The Danish side have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.
Image source, Getty ImagesBlackburn Rovers forward Yuki Ohashi is likely to be sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury picked up during his side's Carabao Cup loss to Sheffield United on Tuesday.
The former Japan international was withdrawn after just 11 minutes of Rovers' 2-1 defeat.
"It was a real blow to us all, it's a lad that never gets injured," Mowbray said.
"We are going to be without him for a few weeks minimum and we will wait and see how he recovers. Fingers crossed he will be a swift healer."
Left-back Harry Pickering also came off at half-time but his injury is "very minor" and could be back for the Championship game against QPR on Saturday (15:00 BST).
Midfielder Adam Forshaw is set for a return to the squad after missing out on the cup game in the week, while Jake Garrett is also likely to be fit.
Left-back Yuri Ribeiro could feature after only 11 minutes of playing time so far this season in their opening match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Defender Scott Wharton is also training but will not be rushed back into the squad having played just 12 games last season because of injury struggles.
"He needs a couple of weeks, probably needs an under-21's game to give him the confidence that his body is ready and okay to compete," Mowbray said.
Listen to the full interview below or on BBC Sounds here.
Image source, ShutterstockGeorge Pratt made his Blackburn Rovers debut against Preston North End last season and went on to make 11 appearances in all competitions
Bradford City have signed Blackburn Rovers defender George Pratt on a season-long loan deal.
The 22-year-old made 10 Championship appearances for Rovers last season.
The Bradford-born player could make his debut in Saturday's home game at Plymouth Argyle in League One.
"We are very happy to bring a player in with his strong attributes, and his keenness to come here fills me with confidence we have signed a highly motivated player," boss Graham Alexander told the club website., external
These two sides have matched each other so far with a win and a draw from their opening two Championship matches.
It is five years since QPR went three games unbeaten at the start of a league season.
None of the past 17 league meetings between Queens Park Rangers (6 wins) and Blackburn Rovers (11 wins) have ended level, since a 1-1 draw in September 2016.
Queens Park Rangers have won away to Blackburn Rovers in two of the past three Championship campaigns (L1), having won on just two of their prior 18 trips to Ewood Park in the league (D3 L13).
After beating Middlesbrough 2-1 last time out, Blackburn are looking to record back-to-back Championship victories for just the second time since the start of December last year (beating QPR and Preston in February).
QPR beat Portsmouth on the opening day of the season before drawing with Bolton in their second match, now they are hoping to remain unbeaten across their opening three matchdays of a league campaign for just the second time in the past decade after 2021-22.
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray has faced QPR 17 times in the league previously – his first meeting with them in October 2006 ended in a draw (3-3 with West Brom) but none of the 16 since have ended level (W11 L5).
Image source, Getty ImagesConnor O'Riordan joined Blackburn Rovers from Crewe in January 2024
Barnsley have signed Blackburn defender Connor O'Riordan on a season-long loan deal, with an option to make it permanent in the summer.
The 22-year-old, who has represented Republic of Ireland up to Under-21 level, spent the first half of last season on loan in League One with Doncaster.
He returned to Blackburn in January and made six appearances in all competitions for the Championship side.
O'Riordan could make his Tykes debut in Saturday's trip to Leyton Orient.
Image source, ShutterstockKim Hellberg celebrates another win as Middlesbrough manager
Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg was delighted to see his side bounce back from their surprise loss to Blackburn Rovers by beating Doncaster Rovers 3-1 in the Carabao Cup.
Will Lankshear came off the bench to score his fourth goal of the season, after Kyle Joseph opened the scoring with his first for Boro and Jeremy Sarmiento's second.
Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees: "I thought we had a little bit of a shaky start, I think in the first 10 or 12 minutes, but then we were quite good. We created a lot of chances.
"We talked a lot about different things after the last game [the Blackburn loss], which I think we did good. We tried to play forward more and have the free man.
"So for us it was a good game over the 90 minutes. I'm a little bit disappointed that we didn't get a clean sheet, but it's better to look at the positives and that's three goals, which is difficult against this type of team at home and we're through to the next round.
"It's good for us to go through, it's important to get a new game soon and I think it's in two weeks or something. It's good because we need games, we want to go through and compete."
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's match between Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough.
Here are some of your comments:
Blackburn Rovers fans
Malcolm: Tentative start by Rovers, and as Tony predicted, they play a possession-based game.
Unfortunate to concede such an early goal. It caught the defence flat-footed, especially Toth. He would normally have saved it. C'est la vie.
I did think they "grasped the nettle" and our big guns stepped up when it mattered. I thought the defence was magnificent after the setback. That gives me hope. We are scoring goals again! Joyous feeling.
Mike: I am delighted, as a fan for over 70 years. We just need cover for key players, surely worth the investment. We must trust Mowbray, who has the experience. I believe with three or four cover players we could shock the pundits and finish eighth.
Paul: Good signs to defend like that against such a strong Middlesbrough team. C'mon lads!
Image source, Getty ImagesMiddlesbrough fans
Malcolm: "Bump in the road." Big club, big ambitions, quality players, strong fanbase. Several players caught my eye. They will be there contending at the business end of the season.
Erico: Same as the back third of last season, Boro were facing a defensive team hitting on the break, and we were outmuscled once again. Burst my bubble really early this season.
Steven: Same old Boro. Possession, shots off target, soft defence.
