DEFIANT Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer insists he will not duck the criticism that has come his way.

Bowyer copped flak after his out-of-form side went down to a 1-0 home loss to Wolves on Sunday.

It was their fourth defeat in six Championship outings and it means they are six points behind the play-off places going into tomorrow’s derby clash at Wigan Athletic.

Just six weeks ago Rovers were riding high in sixth after a dramatic draw at Middlesbrough stretched their unbeaten run to nine matches.

But they will make the short trip to the DW Stadium on the back of a reverse that was met with boos from supporters.

Bowyer, who led Rovers to an eighth place finish in his first full season in charge, said: “The supporters are entitled to their opinion, they pay their money.

“But like I said after the game, during the game it doesn’t quite help the players.

“With myself, it’s the first time and it was an interesting one for me to see how I would learn from it and deal with it.

“We’ve come out fighting this week in training and that’s the demand and the response we’re looking for from the team.

“I’m not going to duck anything or hide away from anything, it’s not in my character and it’s not how I was brought up.

“In adversity you learn more about yourself and I know what I’m going to do.

“I’m not naive or stupid enough to know Sunday’s performance wasn’t good enough and I take that on board.

“But what it does do is make me more determined and focused to make sure we get a reaction and a performance at the weekend.”

With Rovers producing their poorest home performance of the campaign Bowyer’s decision to wait until the 71st minute to make his first change has been questioned.

He said: “If we’d have made a change at half-time or earlier on in the game and we’d have lost the game that way people would have been saying, ‘why did he change it so soon?’ You can’t win with substitutions.

“The only thing that’s guaranteed with football is that you don’t get stick as a manager if you win football matches. That’s what we’ve got to try and get back to.”

Second-from-bottom Wigan, who will be without suspended winger Callum McManaman tomorrow, have not won at home since August 30.

But Bowyer said: “If you look at their squad they’re still a Premiership squad and the fact that Leicester City are rumoured to be interested in signing Shaun Maloney shows you the quality they have.

“We know it’s going to be a very difficult game. It’s a local derby, form goes out of the window, and in Malky Mackay they’ve got an experienced Championship manager who has got promoted from this division before.

Bowyer added: “It’s important we have a reaction from Sunday but we’re fully aware and sensible enough people to know we’re one win away from going on another run.

“That’s how quickly this game changes but especially in the Championship.

“We’re not ducking our form of late but we are sticking together and we’re going to have a good go on Saturday.”

Rovers have sold nearly 3,000 tickets for tomorrow’s match.