CAPTAIN Charlie Mulgrew says the automatic promotion spots remain the target for Rovers this season but he acknowledges that wins need to start coming with more regularity.

Rovers head to Bury this weekend 11 points off the top two in League One and with just one win in their last five games.

While a win at the Energy Check Stadium could move Rovers back into the top six, Mulgrew admits the ambitions are loftier than merely a spot in the play-offs.

With Rovers now a third of the way through the season, and not wanting to leave themselves with too much to do in the latter stages, the 31-year-old says now would be an ideal time for them to find that much desired consistency.

“Of course, that’s the main target for us and we are doing all we can to get there,” Mulgrew said of Rovers’ top two ambitions.

“I think there’s more to come in terms of going on a run. We’ve shown it in spells, playing well, but I think if we can really put it together in this run of games then we can hopefully get a few wins.

“We’ve got ourselves in a good position, with a couple of games in hand, but we feel that we need that run and that’s what we want to do.”

Rovers have played 15 league games in the opening 15 weekends of the season but now face a period of 12 fixtures in eight weeks.

The 2-2 draw with Fleetwood on October 31 was their last League One outing, having progressed in the FA Cup but seen their Checkatrade Trophy participation come to an end since.

Their longest unbeaten run in the league so far has been the four match winning streak in late August and early September, something Mulgrew says must change.

And after a stop-start opening to the season in terms of both games and results, Mulgrew added: “We’re looking forward to getting back playing now.

“It’s a few months now of constant games every couple of days and the Christmas period.

“It’s important to get on a run and everyone is looking to get that started on Saturday.

“We won a few away games in a row earlier in the season but every team that gets promotion goes on a good run and this is the time where there’s a lot of games and a lot to play for so we really need to make sure we make life easier for ourselves at the back of the season.

“Hopefully we can get a few wins on the board.”

Rovers were installed as heavy favourites going in to the season but haven’t found life easy with seven wins and four defeats to their name.

But keen to meet the challenge head on, Mulgrew said: “It’s tough when you’re the favourites and everyone wants to beat you and then when they come to Ewood and sit in it can be difficult to break them down.

“We knew that would be the case and the challenge is to take the pressure on and win games.

“We’re right in amongst it, there’s no hiding place and we’re looking to get the wins on the board.”

The Rovers defender was speaking at Ewood Park as part of a Show Racism The Red Card event involving local school children.

Mulgrew, alongside striker Joe Nuttall, answered questions from youngsters about what they had learned throughout the day.

He said: “It’s important that they are educated on the rights and wrongs of what to do if they are racially abused or bullied.

“It’s really important they learn to report it and we’re happy to come along and support that and answer their questions.”