Paul Lambert: Blackburn Rovers need a 'street fighter' up front

Saturday’s defeat at Cardiff City means Rovers have now gone four full games and seven hours without scoring.

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Lambert is targeting inventive attacking players in the January transfer window to inject more creativity.

But, with Fode Koita and Chris Brown yet to prove they are up to the task, and with top-scorer Jordan Rhodes in need of support, also high on his shopping list is a physical frontman with know-how.

“Championship football you sometimes need a street fighter up top,” said Lambert, whose double promotion-winning Norwich City side was spearheaded by Grant Holt.

“Sometimes you need a street fighter in this league to get you up the pitch, who knows how to take the ball, and who knows how to get hold of the ball.

“I think that’s something we need so we’ll see if there’s somebody out there who can give us a hand.

“Fode’s young, he’s just come into the country, and he only plays in fits and starts, which you’d expect from a guy who has been playing in a different country.

“Jordan needs a bit of help up there as well so I think we need to get that type of player in.”

On Saturday Lambert went with Rhodes, whose last goal came eight games ago, and Koita, who is yet to open his account for the club, in front of Tom Lawrence.

Lawrence’s at times lively performance at the tip of a midfield diamond was one of the few positives Lambert could take after Rovers went down to a third straight 1-0 loss.

Leicester City have given the young Wales international the green light to remain at Ewood Park for the rest of the season.

And Lambert will look to tie up a fresh loan deal for Lawrence this week.

But he is also aiming to make more additions before Rovers return to south Wales on Saturday for a FA Cup third-round tie at Newport County.

Lambert said: “We’ll try and do something. We have to try. If we can get two or three in it’ll be beneficial for everybody.”

Rovers are likely be restricted to loan signings this month as the club attempts to avoid going straight back into the Financial Fair Play it has just come out of.

And Lambert said: “At the minute that’s the way it stands (loans). We’re trying to do one or two little things where if we get a little bit of money we’ll try something.

“But we certainly need help on that front. As I said when I came in, I’m not going to make excuses over the embargo or anything like that. We’ve not been good enough to win the last three games.

“We certainly need a shake-up. It’s there for everybody to see. I’m not going to stand here and say it’s a bed of roses. We need reinforcements.”