THE knives are safely back in the drawer for now, but Gary Bowyer needs Rovers to go on a run or they will be out and as sharp as ever in the weeks to come.

The performance on Saturday was an improvement but it will all have been for nothing if we don’t go and get a result at Watford, and then pick up plenty of points in this busy make or break February.

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And not only does the team need to go on a run, but Jordan Rhodes needs to turn his goal at Ewood on Saturday - his first in seven games - into a goalscoring run of his own.

Having been our primary talisman, the Scot has played second fiddle this season to the impressive Rudy Gestede, who has outscored his previously prolific strike partner so far this term.

And we need them both to be firing on all cylinders if we are to make up the eight points between ourselves and the top six.

The Fulham result has made that fading dream a possibility as, if results go our way this weekend, we could be five points behind sixth place with some ‘winnable’ games coming up.

It felt as if the finger-pointing that took place in the iPro changing rooms after the Derby defeat may have been just the tonic, as it was a hard-working Rovers that turned out this weekend.

Chris Brown deserves credit for a solid performance.

He was a constant thorn in the Fulham defence’s side and a worthy partner for Rhodes whose goal will no doubt have provided some relief after his mini drought.

The signing of Jay Spearing may also prove a master stroke as the on-loan midfielder was excellent on his debut and made our midfield feel a lot more solid.

The team once again showed that character that has been so often talked about this season but we will see just how much of that character exists come the end of this potentially season-defining month.