Blackburn Rovers: It’s not all Doom and Gloom
Rovers finally received some reward for the efforts that they have been putting in of late. A 3-0 victory at Ewood Park over Charlton will feel like a combination of the efforts the squad have put in over the last few weeks finally paid off. Gary Bowyer has found himself under serious pressure from fans, perhaps a little unfairly giving the difficult summer he has had.
Tom Cairney, Alex Baptiste, David Dunn and Rudy Gestede all left and as the club are under a transfer embargo Bowyer was unable to sign players to fill the gaps left in the spine of the side, relying on free transfers and the loan market.
The upturn in performances for Rovers is without doubt linked to a return to fitness of their talisman Jordan Rhodes. The Scotland front man has 4 goals in his last 3 games having now gotten completely over the ankle injury which bugged him through the initial games of the season.
Nathan Delfouneso has came in and is starting to improve his performance levels in his attempt to return to the form of his Aston Villa days when he was touted as a future England striker. Gary Bowyer also took a chance on twenty-four year old French striker Bengali-Fode Koita who has pace and power in abundance and could be a key for Rovers with the X factor he brings to the side.
Gary Bowyer has also had to reconstruct the Rovers midfield, from a workmanlike part of the team to the real driving force. Players like Danny Guthrie and Hope Akpan when up to match fitness and fully integrated into the team will provide more attacking threat which will could turn the draws Rovers fans seen at the beginning of the season turned into victories.
Blackburn have been guilty of being predictable in games last season which was down to the lack of variation in the centre of midfield, relying on the creativity of wingers Craig Conway and Ben Marshall, as well as the magic of Rhodes and Gestede to make thing happen.
Blackburn Rovers now have Hull at the weekend before the toughest October fixture list imaginable. Along with the big derby clash with Burnley at Ewood Blackburn will also welcome Ipswich and Derby as well as a trip to Leeds to look forward too.
The recent performances against Fulham, QPR and Charlton will give the fans hope that the team are starting to get points on the board which will help them progress up the table. A good October month could leave Blackburn in the play off positions by taking points off their promotion rivals, so it’s not all doom and gloom at Ewood.