Three down and three to go in this intriguing mini spell of the season for Rovers. With six games packed into three weeks, outside of Christmas, it’s the busiest portion of the season and one that tests the squad for sure.

Last time, I wrote about this being a tricky set of fixtures, so it was pleasing to start off with that home win against Swansea to reduce some of the onward pressure against arguably tougher opponents.

In fact, although the winning home run came to an end (as it would do at some point), the spirited draw against West Brom provided another admirable point gained. 

In both of those games, I feel like we’ve seen the reversion to type for John Eustace and how we’ll now generally approach our home games this season. Aim to open the scoring and if we do, be resolute and ask the opponent to come and break us down. 

If we can’t find the goal ourselves, remain compact and put the point in the bag. Generally, a recipe for a successful points tally at home and a welcome change from how easily opponents have left Ewood Park with something in recent years.

Before the season started, this was exactly what I expected of Rovers with plenty of games in that 1-0 and 0-0 category. Conceding goals was a huge Achilles heel last season and Eustace will know we aren’t blessed with depth, and perhaps quality, in all areas of the pitch. 

I was fully on board with this less exciting, but results-producing, season of mediocrity before a ball was kicked. Therefore, starting the season as Championship top goal-scorers at one point, and with some comfortable victories outside of the 1-0 mould has been extremely welcome. But with Sheffield United, Leeds, Luton and Sunderland all arriving at Ewood Park in the next six home games, I do expect more of the same and I don’t mind that one bit. 

I got as much enjoyment out of the Swansea victory as I did the Bristol City win. There’s just something about seeing your team roll up their sleeves and getting the job done – Arte et Labore perhaps?!

Away from home, it’s, of course, been a different story and that away win still eludes us. However, at Watford, we saw a much-improved performance compared to the previous three on the road. 

I felt we were unlucky not to leave with a point. After a blistering opening ten minutes where the laws of physics (and goal-line technology) can only describe how Dom Hyam didn’t score, Rovers imposed themselves much better. We can also point to three other big chances in the game – Andi Weimann’s crucial miss as it turned out – which was an improvement on all three previous games at Preston, Coventry and Plymouth.

However, it must be said that the game being decided by a debatable (but probably correct) penalty decision was a bitter pill to swallow in the away end. But finishing these three games with one win, one draw and one defeat isn’t to be sniffed at. Remaining sixth in the table remains a Halloween treat for us all, and something for the squad to grip onto for sure.

Looking ahead to the next three games, ending with ten points from eighteen would be a magnificent return – two wins out the next three which includes two home games of course. Even another win, with one or two draws to take eight or nine points would be a solid return and keep us moving along nicely.

An ongoing point of caution and concern, alongside the lack of away win, must be the goals scored column. As much as we created far better chances at Vicarage Road, we can’t escape that it’s only four goals in our last seven games. Although three of those goals have brought a couple of wins in the Eustace-type described above, it’s nowhere near Championship top scorer territory. 

One to watch for sure, and news of Amario Cozier-Duberry being out until after the international break is a blow. The return of Harry Leonard, whenever Eustace decides to bring him back, will be a welcome addition to our forward line certainly.

The other significant news over the last week is Hayden Carter who devastatingly will be out for two to three months. I wrote last time about him walking the suspension tightrope so it’s a cruel twist of fate that he joins Scott Wharton to deplete our centre-back resources further. Carter’s importance has grown over these last couple of years so he will be a big miss. 

I’m hoping and praying that Hyam and Danny Batth can remain largely available through this spell to allay any concerns there. Three out of five centre-backs available is a different tightrope and it would not surprise me to see Harry Pickering joining as cover at some point given the relentlessness of the upcoming fixtures in Carter’s absence.

I’ll finish the column this week by saluting one of our unsung heroes. I was delighted to see Sondre Tronstad pick up Player of the Month at Rovers. Given the standards he’s set himself in the least attractive position on the pitch, it’s easy to not notice what he does for Rovers. 

Tronstad’s ability to mop up the play, win the ball back and provide that perfect axis for the revitalised Lewis Travis is a key part of the Eustace approach. Of course, in a month where Rovers have only scored two goals, it does open the door for our defensive players to take the crown.

But if the Ballon d’Or is good enough for Rodri, then Player of the Month is the least that our Sonny deserves!