I THINK Gary Bowyer will be fairly happy with the way things have gone for Blackburn this season.

I don’t think he’ll be fully happy as he will feel his side should have had a few more points on the board but overall it’s not been a bad first half of the season.

Rovers were in the play-off places thanks to a good, consistent run that they need to repeat once the league games get going again.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Wolves, Wigan and Fulham are winnable matches and they are matches Blackburn must look to get nine points from. Do that and they would certainly close the five-point gap to the play-offs.

Wolves will probably be the toughest of the three but Rovers have got to take confidence from the way they have played over Christmas – if not the results.

But first up, of course, is an FA Cup tie against Charlton, one of our Championship rivals.

It’s a game Rovers should want to win, not see as a distraction.

If I was Gary I would put out a strong side, depending on illness and injury, and go out there and try and get a win.

It doesn’t matter what competition you are playing in, wins give you confidence and there would be no better way to start an important month by getting a victory at the Valley.

But if Gary does ring the changes then it will be up to the players coming in to make sure they have a good game and give him a problem for the Wolves match.

If the players coming in are hungry enough and want to prove a point to the manager, they should have a good game.

But whatever happens it would be good to have a bit of a cup run.

Don’t get me wrong, getting in the play-offs is the most important thing, but as I say, winning and going unbeaten breeds confidence.

And if Rovers can get that back, they should soon get back up the table.