Blackburn Bleed 13 Points From Winning Positions in 11 Games

Thirteen points dropped from winning positions. That single figure defines Blackburn Rovers’ opening 11 matches of the Championship season far more than their current league standing.

The collapse at The Hawthorns on Saturday was the latest example. Blackburn led West Bromwich Albion 2-0 inside 12 minutes, courtesy of two Andri Gudjohnsen goals, only to lose the match. According to the club’s post-game assessment, it marked the third time this season Rovers have taken a lead against Sheffield United, QPR and West Brom, then lost all three contests.

They also surrendered advantages away at Wolves and Portsmouth, settling for draws instead. Six games. Thirteen points gone.

For context, 13 points in the second tier is often the exact margin separating a playoff spot from mid-table obscurity by May. Teams that cannot protect leads routinely fail to sustain promotion pushes. Blackburn’s inability to close out matches has effectively halved their potential return during the first quarter of the campaign.

The structural cause appears consistent across multiple fixtures. Opposition teams are finding too much time and space in central areas, either just inside or outside the penalty area, according to match observations. West Brom exploited those exact zones to mount their comeback after Gudjohnsen’s early double.

Manager Tony Mowbray has alternated between a back four and a back five, though his preferred system remains a four-man defense. Tactical flexibility has not translated into late-game stability. The 16 goals conceded in 11 games rank among the higher totals in the division, with only nine teams having conceded more, while only seven have scored more than Rovers.

Defensive reinforcements could arrive within the next fortnight. Left-back Yuri Ribeiro and centre-back Scott Wharton are expected to push for starting places, increasing competition across the back line. Mowbray has historically shown willingness to drop established players when form demands it.

Gudjohnsen remains the primary bright spot. Operating as a traditional number nine following a positional switch in the summer, the Icelandic forward is fit and scoring consistently. His long-range strike against West Brom and subsequent poacher’s finish from an uncleared corner underscored his value to a squad that creates chances but struggles to make them count defensively.

Complicating immediate preparations is an ankle injury to Ryoya Morishita. His ever-present record looks likely to end against Wrexham on Saturday. Should he be unavailable, five senior players will be sidelined, though the club considers that a relatively healthy position compared with recent seasons.