EWOOD new-boy Jason Roberts reckons Blackburn Rovers are heading in the right direction - despite their faltering start to the season.

A disappointing haul of just one point from the opening three matches has left Mark Hughes's side propping up the rest of the Premier League.

But, far from being downbeat, Roberts believes his new club are in a false position, and he's adamant a change in fortunes is just around the corner.

"From our performance against Portsmouth to the one against Chelsea, I think we've shown we're improving and gelling more as a team," said Roberts.

"There's a few new players here that are still getting used to playing with each other, but I'm really confident about the future.

"We came to win the game (on Sunday), so we were massively disappointed with the way we ended up losing it.

"In the first half, I thought we played particularly well, then in the second half they got the goal just when they needed it, and Chelsea are one of the best teams around at sitting back and catching people on the break, which made it very difficult for us after that."

While Rovers have showed clear signs of improvement since that 3-0 mauling at Portsmouth, the one area of slight concern has been the lack of goals so far.

Benni McCarthy's solitary strike against Everton is all Rovers have to show from nearly five hours of football, but Roberts is adamant it's only a matter of time before the rest of the team clicks.

Goals were hardly a problem in pre-season; Rovers scored 12 times in six friendly outings, Roberts netting four of them himself.

Now the former Wigan man, who joined Blackburn in a £2.25 million deal from the Latics earlier in the summer, is looking to replicate that form in the league, starting at Bramall Lane, where Rovers meet Sheffield United, on Saturday week.

"We'll prepare for that as best we can. It's going to be another tough game," said Roberts.

"We know what Sheffield United are all about. They're a good side and they'll be ready for a battle, so we've got to be ready for that as well."