Blackburn Rovers sit top of the Championship after six games, can they continue their form, asks Rob Critchley, and how will supporters react if they can’t?
The start to Blackburn Rovers season has been nothing if not eventful, and fourteen points from six games in an unbeaten start to the league campaign has been more than many pundits have expected.
From having their pre-season friendly against NEC Nijmegen cancelled amid fears of violence, to the ongoing protests for the removal of Steve Kean, who must surely now rate as one of the thickest skinned managers ever to walk a touchline, it has been an unconventional start to life in the Championship for the Ewood park side.
Venky’s, the owners of Rovers, who are nearly as disliked as Kean have managed to keep the majority of the relegated squad together, and while no doubt they would have loved to have kept hold of Junior Hoilett and Steven N’Zonzi especially, the signing of Jordan Rhodes shows that they still mean business.
The £8 million which was spent on Rhodes represents on of the largest transfer fees Rovers have paid for many years, but the initial gamble seems to be paying off with three goals in as many games.
Venky’s will be hoping is that if there is not a quick return to the Premiership, Rhodes value continues to increase as along with Grant Hanley, they have two of the best young talents outside the Premiership, and two players Craig Levin will be hoping to build the Scotland side around for the next ten years.
With an array of both English and Portugese international veterans, in Nuno Gomes, and experience right across the pitch – Danny Murphy for example, which few other Championship clubs can rival, it is possible that Rovers have the right approach to bounce straight back.
How the supporters react when a defeat or two come a long could be vital. The anti-Kean, anti-Venky emotions are never far from the surface, and the pressure will be on if performances do not match up to the results which have been achieved so far.
Against Barnsley there were rumblings when Blackburn went 1-0 behind, and despite the come back and the eventual 2-1 win, Barnsley were the better side for long periods. When the going gets tough, will the fans get going? Kean will be hoping that they get behind his team, but he knows that his unpopularity can lead to a negative atmosphere as also happened last season.
But six games in, and the signs for Rovers are there to ensure that they are challenging at the right end of the table. Will the fragile peace hold though? If not, it will take a lot to halt the slide, and surely it will be rover and out for Kean.
image: © joncandy
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