Jon Dahl Tomasson believes Blackburn Rovers are making progress despite having a similar record at this stage last season.
Rovers made a strong start last year and sat third in the Championship table at the mid-season World Cup break at the end of November. After 13 games, they had won seven and lost six games.
This year, they have six wins, as many defeats and one draw thrown in. But, undoubtedly, the manner of those performances have been far more stable and impressive.
Considering the strength of the Championship, the disruptive nature of Rovers' summer and the age of the squad, Tomasson is delighted with the way his side have progressed this season.
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"I think we are making great progress with a good team," Tomasson said. "We are playing more mature but there will be setbacks.
"Those setbacks need to be one backwards before you can do two forwards. You can lose every game in this league but we are solid, we're not giving stupid chances away and we're defending better.
"I am happy, we've had two clean sheets and conceded two goals in four games which is extremely positive. We're still creating chances, we could've scored more at Millwall.
"I think there is a lot of difference, we have a clear identity of football and a lot of players went away. We didn't get the players we wanted in the end (during the summer). We did get players which is good and people tried their best.
"If you look at the team, we made great progress. We have a very clear way of playing and if you look at our performances, we should have more points. Even someone who is blind can see that.
"Football is great in this league and if you score the first goal, the chances are winning are quite big. The second wins it. Some of those we lost, we could've won, we had the biggest chances before the other opponents, didn't grab them and then you can lose games."
With how tight the Championship is this season, Rovers have lept from 20th to 11th with three wins in a row. Leicester City and Ipswich Town have made a brilliant start whilst Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United and Queens Park Rangers are battling from the bottom.
Otherwise, only eight points separate 21st and third in the table. Tomasson believes the league is tougher than ever but is relishing the challenge.
"I've always felt it's an excellent league, a top-class league," Tomasson said. "With the fans, the stadium, the history like Rovers.
"This league this year is really tough, probably the toughest we've seen for ages. It's a little more possession this year, it's a tough and great league. I really enjoy it."
Tomasson has often brought up the topic of giving back to supporters, who pay their hard-earned money to support the club, week in, week out. In a cost of living crisis, the discussion about ticket pricing has never been more pertinent.
The Rovers head coach believes football is a culture in England and believes tickets are too expensive whilst acknowledging the economic balance clubs must strike.
"We have a lot of stadiums where it's not the fans who are really sitting there," he said. "It's not like that at Ewood but big stadiums and some clubs, I won't mention names.
"Fans love the game, especially in the UK. You work, you go to the pub with a mate, you go to the game and come back to the pub and talk about football.
"That's society and how you connect with the area. Prices are too much. I know they can pay for players and coaches and you need it to keep the club floating.
"It's a lot if you look at the things a family needs to buy. I think it's too expensive for the fans, who are the heart of the game."
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