John Eustace is under no illusions that Blackburn Rovers need points but has been encouraged by recent performances.

Rovers are winless since Eustace took charge nine Championship games ago. However, the team have drawn six of those and have become far more difficult to play against.

Results elsewhere mean Rovers remain three points clear of immediate danger but did drop from 17th to 19th after wins for Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers. Their results further underlined the value of three points, rather than draws.

Against Ipswich, Rovers produced a spirited display even if they came away empty-handed. With more luck in front of goal, both in terms of their finishing and the referee's decisions, they would have taken something.

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They also restricted Ipswich to very few clear-cut chances, with the goal coming from an individual mistake.

Despite creating chances, Eustace has encouraged other players aside from Sam Szmodics to step up and provide goals for the team. Rovers have only scored four goals in their last six games, all netted by their leading marksman.

"I am very encouraged by the chances we created, like we did at Middlesbrough and in other games," Eustace told The Lancashire Telegraph.

"I know how good the team are. I've said before that we have to be more clinical. We need someone other than Sammie (Szmodics) to put the ball in the net, of course we do.

"It's something we are working hard on. That has been the story since we have come in.

"We have created good chances, some good moments, we've defended well but the ball hasn't been dropping in the right areas.

"We have to keep believing, doing the right things and in the final seven games, something will change for us. We will start picking up wins instead of draws.

"I don't want to take that away from the team, I love watching us play. We have certainly got to start putting the ball in the net and winning some games."

Ipswich had the better of the opening half an hour but aside from the goal and an early penalty claim, Rovers restricted them to very few clear-cut chances.

Defensively, they have been far more sound. They've only conceded more than once on two occasions since Eustace came in, both away from home.

Eustace has been encouraged by the fact Rovers haven't been blown away in every match they've played.

"It's about us and what we do. In the games I've been in charge of so far, there are lots of positives to take from the game.

"We've been in every match, we haven't given up. We've shown a fight, togetherness and that is key to finishing the season as well as we can.

"Of course, it's frustrating, the way we gave the goal away. We gave Ipswich a chance, it was their only real serious effort on the goal.

"I think we have limited a lot of top teams to next to nothing. Norwich coming here, the same. Middlesbrough last week, the same.

"We are showing a lot of good signs from that end. We are still creating chances, our football has been fantastic at times as well.

"To lose the match in that way isn't great. The lads refocused, stuck together and limited a very good team to next to nothing and that is very pleasing."