OWEN Coyle believes there is reason for optimism at Blackburn Rovers, insisting: “We know it’s very close to coming together.”

The Rovers boss feels things have gone against his side in recent weeks, having suffered three consecutive 3-2 defeats to fall back in to the bottom three.

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Rovers have faced the Championship’s top four sides in their last five games and Coyle admits his team are now gearing up for two “massive” games over the festive period with trips to Barnsley and Huddersfield on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day respectively.

All but one of Rovers’ last 22 games have been decided by a single goal and Coyle is confident his side have more than enough to pull clear of danger.

“We have now played the top four teams in the last three weeks or so,” Coyle said. “We went to Newcastle and won, we drew with Huddersfield, and then against Brighton and Reading we have shown that we’re so close to being a very good team.

“The margins are fine, football as we know can be a cruel game, having put so much in and left with so little as we have recently.

“But we know it’s very close to coming together.

“We knew that coming in we were charged with a huge job, the team were on the slide for a number of years and then what happened in the summer with players leaving.

“But what we have got is goalscorers, firepower, but we need to make sure defensively we’re stronger as a group.

“We know that we’ll be fine, but it always hurts when you have put so much into games.”

Rovers have only taken the lead in a game on six occasions this season and again fell behind in the defeat to Reading.

But Coyle feels that’s not always a case of having started the games poorly.

He added: “Every team sets out to start really well.

“Reading are a team that like to get on the ball early, but even before they scored, we had some good opportunities to go in front.

“Scoring goals is the hardest part of the game, but when the chances come about, you have to try and be clinical.

“When you’re presented with gilt-edged chances, from six yards out and free headers, those have to hit the back of the net.

“That will not only help the team, but also alleviate the pressure at the back.”

Coyle will be without his captain for the next two games with Jason Lowe banned after picking up up his 10th yellow card at the weekend, triggering a two game ban.

“Having any senior player missing is a blow,” added the Rovers boss.

“It’s disappointing for him and the team, but again, as we have been doing, we will adjust accordingly with the amount of players we’ve had missing.”