Blackburn Rovers fell to a second successive defeat as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Coventry City.

Two goals in seven minutes, separated by the half-time break, saw the Sky Blues take the match away from Blackburn, who had been the better side until conceding

Chances came and went in the openign 40 minutes. Makhtar Gueye headed at goal and was denied by the goalkeeper before his volley was bloicked on the line.

It had been an improvement on the limp showing at Oxford United but they lost control of the game. Ellis Simms scored just before the break, heading in at the back post after the initial corner-kick hadn't been cleared out of the area.

That put a big dampener on an otherwise good half. The last thing Rovers could afford to do was switch off after the interval but that's what they did.

They were left with a mountain to climb as, typically, Brandon Thomas-Asante scored from close range. The striker has been the subject of transfer interest from Rovers but has started the last two games, scoring in both. It's now five goals in his last three appearances against his suitors too.

Rovers huffed and puffed but failed to score for a fifth game in eight. They have only won one of those and their slide down the table feels inevitable but for some January window interjection.

Rovers were keen to produce a response after Saturday's sub-par display at Oxford United. It was the fourth game in a seven-game run where they have failed to score, winning only once.

It remains painfully obvious where the weaknesses lie in this Blackburn Rovers squad. The game was dripping with narrative before kick-off with Thomas-Asante, a player identified as someone who could be an asset to Eustace's squad, leading the line, along with previous target Liam Kitching. Let alone Coventry establishing themselves as Rovers' bogey team; unbeaten in their last eight meetings.

With 12 days of the window remaining, Rovers' board do not need a reminder of previous January mistakes. Their youthful bench, containing the likes of James Edmondson, Matty Literland and Harley O'Grady-Macken, reiterated how stretched this squad is.

Illness to Aynsley Pears forced Eustace into a change in goal, with Toth making his league debut. Other alterations were predictable given the absences as Tyrhys Dolan, Ryan Hedges and Joe Rankin-Costello were recalled.

With limited options to freshen up the attack, Eustace opted for a tactical shift away from his trusted 4-2-3-1. Instead, it was a tight 4-4-2 diamond, with Dolan joining Gueye up front and Todd Cantwell partnering stand-in skipper John Buckley. The idea being to get more goal threats closer to the goal, in the absence of a stand-out attacker.

The hosts looked better for it as they created the better of the first-half opportunities. The two front boys linked up as Dolan drifted wide, crossed from the right but Gueye's back-post header was pushed over the bar by Oliver Dovin.

Rovers' number nine looked in the mood; backing into opponents, winning his duels and linking play nicely. He looked far more of a threat than he has previously.

Danny Batth was the next to come close from a corner-kick. The initial set-piece was half-cleared, Cantwell drilled the ball back in and the defender headed towards goal, only for the Coventry goalkeeper to scramble across his line and claw it out.

Another Rovers delivery caused issues as Dovin failed to clear his lines and the ball dropped to Gueye. He kept his effort on target, and it was heading in, but it couldn't beat the row of Coventry bodies on the line who cleared.

Having had the better of the first half without finding the opening, it was typical that Rovers went in behind. Toth had already looked nervy from a couple of inswinging corners and could perhaps have dealt with this one better with his initial punch.

The ball was looped back in and Simms rose highest at the back post. That gave Rovers a big challenge for the second half after their poor run in front of goal. Callum Brittain was then withdrawn at half-time, presumably due to injury, to make matters worse.

Rovers then gave themselves a mountain to climb when Coventry doubled the lead minutes after the restart. It was written in the stars that Thomas-Asante would score and he tapped in after a ball to the back post was redirected into the six-yard box.

Eustace rolled the dice just before the hour mark with four bold changes to freshen up his attack. They responded to going behind and kept knocking on the door without any success.

Gueye was slipped through on goal and after checking inside the defender, launched a powerful shot at goal. Dovin was in the way and parried it to safety. The big striker continued to be Rovers' biggest threat.

As the hosts committed more men forward, it left gaps at the other end. Milan van Ewijk took advantage and burst into the box, went to ground and somehow Jack Rudoni missed the target when he could've sewn up the win for Coventry.

After an initial flurry, Rovers struggled to create any real chances of note as the time ticked by. Coventry were happy to sit deep in a low block and Rovers simply couldn't break them down.

They took the sting out of the game, leaving Eustace and the Blackburn players without any answers. It was another frustrating night where, had they scored when on top, they might have gone on to win.

The predictable nature of the goal-scorer only added further salt to the wounds. Whilst their rivals have strengthened, Rovers only look weaker with injuries setting in.

It is painfully obvious what the problem is, after one win in eight and another game without scoring. Thankfully, they don't have to play Coventry again this season, who firmly have their number.

Blackburn's season was always likely to be defined by what they could do this month and after 21 days, they have regressed. It is up to the board as to whether are prepared to back their head coach and change the pattern.