Bradley Johnson says Rovers can’t make excuses for their results in 2021 and is happy to be on board to try and put it right next season.

Rovers slid down the table, eventually finishing 15th, after a disastrous spell of form post-January that took them out of top six contention.

That run actually coincided with Johnson’s absence from the team, the experienced midfielder sustaining a hamstring injury at Middlesbrough in January, with Rovers winning just one of the eight matches he missed.

Johnson is the only out-of-contract player to earn a new deal with the club, signing up for an extra 12 months, taking his time at Ewood Park into a third year.

And he’s looking to build on the 67 appearances he’s made so far, and contribute to more success on the pitch.

“It was a weird season for everyone," the 34-year-old said.

"Not playing in front of fans has been tough, Covid hit us hard and we had injuries that disrupted things as well.

“But we can’t sit here and make excuses, we all know that the performances had to be better.

“We hit bad form, results didn’t go for us and it was an up and down season because we went through a bad patch after starting the season so well.

“As a team, we didn’t have a good season.

“I want to put that right next season and hopefully the fans can be with us for 2021/22 to help us as well.”

Johnson signed for Rovers in 2019 after leaving Derby County, and started 25 matches last season.

He has begun each of his two years at the club in fine form, none moreso than in September when he scored three times and was named Championship player of the month.

Johnson said the injury setback in January was a blow, but felt he showed better consistency last term after a mixed campaign in his debut year.

“It’s amazing to stay, I’m delighted to remain at Rovers,” he told the club website.

“I was in an out of form in my first season, but I felt I hit the ground running for the start of the campaign that’s just gone.

“I got fit, picked up an injury midway through the season and that was a blow.

“I’m hardly ever injured so it was hard to take at the time.

“I do a lot of work off the training ground, especially with cycling, and I feel really fit and ready to go for next season after a disappointing 2020/21 for the team and myself.”