Blackburn Rovers' Scott Wharton on Southampton clash

Wharton had to be patient for opportunities during the early weeks of the season but has become a regular figure in the backline over the past couple of months.

“It has been frustrating, last season and the start of this one. I found it a bit difficult, just trying to be consistent within my own game,” he told RoversTV.

“I feel like you are only going to get the best out of me when I am playing regular football.

“I am getting my confidence back and playing better, but I need to keep going and take each game as it comes.

“People don’t understand sometimes when you are coming on for the last 10 or 15 minutes as a sub, it is hard to get up to the pace of the game.

“If I am coming on for the last 15, I have got everything to lose. I’m not going to win the game for the boys unless we don’t concede.

“I am working hard, trying my best for the club and I will keep going.”

Wharton certainly made an impact against Bristol City in midweek, scoring the winner with a clinical header in the box.

“It was a good win in the end,” he continued. “I feel like we were hanging on a bit towards the end but three points is all that matters at this stage in the season.

“Especially after the last two games, it was good to get a win at home going into Saturday at Southampton.

“We probably weren’t at our best at times but we still created chances. It is all about winning in the Championship and that is what we did.

Wharton battles with Tommy Conway (Image: Camerasport)

“I think sometimes we have played really well and not got the win. For me, football is all about winning no matter how you perform.

“Obviously, you want to perform well every week but being realistic, it isn’t going to happen all the time.

“We are up against different teams in the Championship – Leeds had some quality players and Bristol City had lots of young legs.”

The victory leaves Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men ninth in the table, only a couple of points off the play-off places.

Wharton hopes Rovers can keep building momentum over the Christmas period but knows everyone will have to dig in as the fixtures come thick and fast.

“Obviously, we have got a few injuries at the moment so we are down to the bare bones a bit,” the 26-year-old explained.

“But the lads are sticking together, it was another big team effort. The games come thick and fast so we have got to manage it and crack on really.

“I am pleased for Siggy (Arnor Sigurdsson) as well, to get his goal. It is a good confidence boost for him, he took it nicely.

“He gets into good positions to score goals and knows when to arrive in the box. He took it really well after a good pass from Szmods (Sam Szmodics).”

The centre-back combined with his brother, Adam, for the winning goal against the Robins on Tuesday night.

“We work on corners but that one wasn’t really planned. I think he just swung it into the box and I probably wanted it more than their defenders,” he added.

“You are not going to dominate the game for the full 90 minutes. There are always going to be spells where the other team has more control, and they did towards the end.

“We showed good character to stand up to the battle, win tackles and put our bodies on the line. Leo (Wahlstedt) did well in net, he made some good saves. It is what it is all about.”

Saturday’s trip to Southampton is a tough one on paper. The Saints sit fourth in the table as they aim to bounce back from last season’s relegation from the top flight.

“These are the sort of games you gave got to look forward to,” said Wharton. “We have probably not played Southampton for a while.

“But it will be a good away day, I think we will have a few fans going down. We are looking forward to it.”

The fixture could see Wharton come up against a familiar face in Adam Armstrong, who scored plenty of goals at Ewood Park between 2018 and 2021.

“I used to hate marking him,” the defender grinned. “He is a top striker, that is why he got his move to the Premier League.

“I know they got relegated but they will be up there at the end of the season no doubt. He definitely knows where the back of the net is so we will have to be on our game. They have got good players so we will need a good performance.”