Blackburn Rovers go into Saturday's clash with inform Sheffield Wednesday knowing their winless run could stretch to eight games if they fail to pick up three points. 

Over the past seven matches Rovers have only managed to pick up two draws, with the rest of the games ending in defeat for Tony Mowbray's men, and the Rovers boss believes losing a key figure has been one reason why Rovers have slumped in form.

Darragh Lenihan has been an ever-present figure in the Rovers defensive line since the 2015-2016 season but has missed the last three league matches through injury.

The Irishman limped off during Rovers 4-2 defeat to QPR with a slight knee ligament injury which will keep him out for around six weeks.

Derrick Williams, who Lenihan had had a solid start to the season with at the back, is now paired up with on-loan defender Tosin Adarabioyo, and is yet to keep a clean sheet in Irish counterpart's absence.

Discussing Rovers form and the unavailability of Lenihan, Mowbray told Lancashire Telegraph: "I do believe in that area of the pitch it’s about combinations. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Lenihan and Williams played together and had four clean sheets out of six.

"When one part of that equation drops out, the confidence level of his partner might not quite be the same, the communication skills between the new partner aren’t the same," Mowbray continued, discussing the lack of clean sheets since Lenihan dropped out.

Mowbray was quick to point out it was all about balance for his Rovers squad, and despite not needing 11 leaders on the pitch, he feels Lenihan's presence has been missed.

"Getting the balance between someone who takes the lead, so if Lenihan is a leader when he’s playing alongside Williams, encourages and drives him, I think the combination works," Mowbray pointed out.

The Verdict

A lack of real leadership was arguably on display when Rovers surrendered a 2-0 lead against Preston last time out, where they ended up losing 3-2.

With Lenihan and Williams at the back, Rovers had kept four clean sheets in all competitions so far this term and it is hard to argue with the comparisons he has drawn on Rovers form and Lenihan's injury.

Mowbray was quick to add that he doesn't mean that Tosin Adarabioyo isn't as good as Lenihan just that the combination at the back may not be working as well.

Adarabioyo clearly has potential and is on-loan from Manchester City for the rest of the season.

A clean sheet at the weekend would certainly ease Mowbray's worries, who will be hotly anticipating Lenihan's return from injury.