Towering trio, keeping it clean, and nailing the colours: Talking points from Blackburn Rovers’ win at Rotherham United

IT may be late in the day for experimenting and there was disappointment among the fan base beforehand when Connor Mahoney – or any other youngster for that matter – failed to make the starting line-up.

But Paul Lambert’s decision to switch to a three-man defence paid off handsomely as Rovers returned to winnings ways with a well-deserved victory.

Consistently impressive captain Grant Hanley, match-winner Shane Duffy and Matt Kilgallon were towering presences at the heart of a backline that coped superbly with an aerial bombardment.

Ben Marshall, as expected, took to his role as wing-back with ease, but it was one which also suited Matt Grimes, who enjoyed his most productive match in a Rovers shirt.

KEEPING IT CLEAN

THAT’S 14 league cleans sheets for Rovers now, the most they have kept in their four seasons in the Championship.

When the post-mortem begins on a deeply underwhelming campaign Jason Steele and the defenders in front of him will be largely excused from blame.

They have all made mistakes across the course of the season but on the whole they have done their jobs. Indeed, outside of the top six, only Preston North End have conceded fewer goals.

Whoever takes over the Ewood Park hotseat has a solid base to build on. Steele is a good, solid goalkeeper and Rovers are fortunate to have three reliable centre-backs – and make that four if Kilgallon is handed a new contract – as well as the promising Scott Wharton waiting in the wings.

COLOURS NAILED TO THE MAST

THE 1,225 travelling supporters made it clear whose side they were on after a week in which their club was plunged into fresh turmoil.

‘We want Venky’s out’ was chanted before, during and after the game while departing boss Lambert was backed throughout, culminating in a song late on pleading for him to ‘stay’.

Not everyone joined in and afterwards on social media there were plenty who voiced their disapproval.

Not that it matters; Lambert has made his decision and he will not be going back on it. Venky’s will remain, though, and if the events of Saturday are anything to go by, we are now heading for another rift in what has long been an unhappy marriage.