Blackburn Rovers’ season has not gone as many fans would have hoped, but their precarious position in the lower echelons of the Championship table has not been as a result of an ineffectiveness in front of goal.
The second tier’s current top goal scorer is plying his trade at Ewood Park. Sammie Szmodics sits on a monumental 21 goals so far this season, three more than his nearest competitors for the Golden Boot. Those finishes have helped his side score a total of 51 goals up to this point in the league, which places them 10th for attacking output, with Plymouth Argyle the only side in the bottom half above them on that metric.
However, defensively is where the Lancashire outfit have looked vulnerable, having conceded 64 times already this season, a tally that only beats bottom-placed side Rotherham United. Their five clean sheets are also the second worst in the division, and it does beg the question of whether John Eustace’s men can be safe from relegation even with that defensive record.
The relegation battle is extremely tight, with only three points separating 17th and 23rd. Rovers sit in 18th, with their run-in also a concern, as they must still face all of the top four sides between now and the end of April, with a trip to Leicester City as their final matchday.
Speaking on their relegation battle, Sky Sports Pundit Don Goodman told The Real EFL exclusively that they need to begin picking up results soon.
“Even just two wins can propel a side up the table. With so few points separating the teams down there, with Rotherham the only real write-offs, it is concerning for Blackburn. They have some very tough-looking fixtures, playing the top four. If they don’t pick up wins against either Plymouth or Huddersfield, they could find themselves in that bottom three.”
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Writer’s View
The former Sunderland striker’s comments hit the nail on the head. Blackburn are in a tough situation and on paper, that situation does not look to be getting any better. Their recent form has left a lot to be desired, and when that is compared to a side like Millwall who have improved considerably in recent weeks, the position is ever more worrying.
Their goal-scoring form is of course their biggest strength, yet that has come at a cost to defensive solidity. A lack of clean sheets throughout the season could come to cost them late on, and if they don’t improve in the next couple of weeks, expect some fans to start getting ever more worried.
