Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out three talking points from the 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle at Ewood Park. 

TARGET PRACTICE

STATISTICS are never an exact science and can’t always be relied upon, but whichever way you look at it, Rovers managing to hit the target with only four of their 25 shots at goal was particularly disappointing.

So far this season they have registered 147 shots on goal, 60 of which have come in the last three home games, but only 52 of them have been on target, just 35.3%. Their percentage for the last three home games is just 26%.

What the stats don't demonstrate however, is the quality of those chances.  Elliott Bennett’s miss at Oldham after rounding the goalkeeper and Derrick Williams’ ambitious 25-yarder against Plymouth which landed 10 rows back in the Blackburn End will both count as shots off target.

Whereas Ben Gladwin’s effort, which somehow didn’t find the back of the net and Paul Caddis’ tame shot straight at the keeper in the first half on Tuesday will both have registered as shots on target.

The contrast between them couldn't have been wider. 

But Rovers must simply start making the opposition goalkeeper work, particularly an 18-year-old debutant as was the case in the second half against Plymouth.

Rovers, who have averaged 52 per cent of the ball so far, must simply become more ruthless infront of goal having now scored more than once in just three of their 12 league games.

ATTACKING ARTILLERY

ROVERS would end the game with three strikers and three attacking midfielders on the pitch, but still they were unable to break down the Plymouth resistance.

No-one has quite been able to nail down those forward spots, with Danny Graham, Dominic Samuel and Marcus Antonsson all having spells in and out of the side. As has Bradley Dack, but after a goal and once again looking Rovers' most likely creative threat, the number 10 role looks to have found its incumbent.

Graham fought, wrestled and tussled his way through a frustrating 90 minutes, but his willingness to work back when Rovers didn't have the ball will have impressed his manager. He missed once excellent chance, heading over an Elliott Bennett cross, while Antonsson and Dack will be among those disappointed not to have least hit the target when chances came their way.

With the attacking places seemingly up in the air, those players must start to make the most of what is being created for them, while calls for Joe Nuttall's inclusion will only continue to grow as his tally for the Under-23s rises at a similar pace to the first-team's struggles in front of goal.

DEFENSIVE DECISIONS

TONY Mowbray made the call to bring in Ryan Nyambe to the back four in place of Elliott Ward to add more mobility and allow Rovers to push higher the pitch.

And while it succeeded on that particular front, Nyambe by his own admission doesn't see himself as a central defender and on the few occasions Plymouth did attack, he at times found himself caught out of position.

His use of the ball caused frustration among sections of the Rovers fans, but accepting his limitations and playing within them at least allowed Rovers to keep the ball rather than aimlessly lumping the ball forward.

Rovers will hope to have the more composed figure of Paul Downing in the side on Saturday but without him, or Darragh Lenihan, it is clear that Rovers' attacking troubles have also not been helped by having to be more aware of protect their backline.