Blackburn Rovers will play far worse and win this season after a frustrating night against Stoke City.

It can be difficult for supporters to separate performances from results but Rovers did not do a lot wrong against the Potters. This was a step up, certainly in attack, on the recent displays that had seen them fail to score in five out of eight games, prior to kick-off.

Remarkably, that statistic extended and it's four games without a goal now too. That despite creating multiple gilt-edged opportunities. Stoke were clinical and took theirs at the other end.

Here are our key takeaways from Ewood Park.

A completely different type of defeat

If you're reading this hoping to see the players get battered, you'll be disappointed. Of course, there is always margin for improvement when you lose but this was a far better performance.

Against Sheffield United, I thought Rovers were quite limp, especially in the second half. They never looked like scoring, up against opposition that were clearly superior across the pitch. That was not the case against Stoke.

They started really well. The first half was excellent and Stoke only created one chance, right at the end through Million Manhoef, where he should have done better. Yuki Ohashi was twice denied, Ryan Hedges should've done better with an opportunity, but it was chalk and cheese to the weekend, especially in attack.

Rovers did create lots of chances. They were more creative and fluid in the final third. What let them down completely was the finishing. They pinned Stoke in, sustained attacks and created an expected goals tally of 2.78. That vs 0.61 against Sheffield United.

Stoke's only chance was that Manhoef effort until he smashed one in front the edge of the box. Game state then played a part and they did have some opportunities but Rovers were still the dominant force.

I will always be more concerned when Rovers don't look like scoring. If this had been the start of a poor run, I don't think anyone would be too concerned and would be happy to write this one off. Of course, that isn't the case.

An inspired goalkeeper and wasteful finishing

Having said all that, Rovers have only themselves to blame for not capitalising. They met a goalkeeper in unbelievable form in Viktor Johansson and were not clinical.

His save from Tyrhys Dolan was the pick of the bunch. That shot is heading for the top corner but he somehow tips it wide of the post.

Gueye was, of course, most guilty of missing a sitter. How did he not score? There is no defending it, he should have buried it. He will not get a better opportunity to open his account in the Championship than that.

The technique was of someone feeling the pressure. He heads it so far down that it bounces off the turf and over the bar. Not even Johansson would've saved that one.

That is how things are going for him right now. Ohashi, similarly, hasn't scored since mid-September. Rovers are paying the price for not signing a number nine with Championship experience in the summer.

I posed that question to Eustace and whilst all he said was "possibly", his expression told you what he was really thinking. In every transfer window since I began covering Rovers, the primary need has been a striker. That is no different in January.

They also need another wide player that has pace, as we've banged on about enough. Andi Weimann was unlucky with two efforts, both brilliantly saved by Johansson, but he didn't offer much in open play and hasn't for a while. That's to be expected, he wasn't signed to play every single match at Rovers.

Change of roles brought fluidity back to Rovers

Rovers reverted to a 3-4-2-1 in possession and it really did work. It helped bring some creativity and fluidity back to their play in the final third.

Ryan Hedges doesn't score enough goals but he is a clever player. His link-up with Harry Pickering, overlapping from a left-centre-back role, was causing lots of problems. Todd Cantwell looked at home as a number 10 and was unpicking locks across the pitch.

He has to stay in that position and have the tea built around him. For Dolan's hard work and energy against the ball, he doesn't have the same guile. The two can still play together but it's Cantwell's turn to take centre stage and Dolan might have to accept coming in from the left. Cantwell's cross for Gueye's missed header was sensational.

I thought both full-backs were very good. Callum Brittain on the opposite side was essentially a right winger. His delivery was excellent and Rovers benefitted from having genuine width on both flanks.

Away sickness has to end

Rovers can't feel sorry for themselves and have to change the narrative away from home after back-to-back home defeats.

It will be a difficult game against Cardiff, who have taken 14 points in eight games under caretaker Omar Riza. It is now a much tougher assignment than five weeks ago.

But Rovers did improve in performance at Watford. They weren't bad against Stoke. But fans will soon get tired, if they haven't already, of hearing that.

It's time to make those performances count for points. Especially on the road.