BLACKBURN could force their way into the play-off frame for the first time tonight with a win at lowly Swindon.

Rovers have started to come good after a sticky start following relegation.

But boss Brian Kidd insists the improvement is down to having the right players available for selection, rather than just a settling in period in the Nationwide League.

"I don't think they ever didn't get to grips with it," he said.

"The problem we've had, in defence of my players, is that we've been playing players out of position because we've had to.

"You can get away with it for a game or two but you can't be hitting a number of games where you're playing players out of position.

"Clubs know where you're vulnerable and they'll work on that.

"It's easy to say 'It's the First Division and they're getting to grips with it' but football's football."

Injuries have disrupted Kidd's selection plans but he got the balance he wanted on Saturday following the arrival of Per Frandsen and was rewarded with a 2-0 win over Walsall. With Lee Carsley the only recognised central midfield player available in recent weeks, Kidd juggled his resources and used David Dunn, Jason Wilcox and youngster Wayne Gill across the middle.

But his point about using specialised players in their correct positions was underlined by the recruitment of Frandsen from Bolton Wanderers as Kidd immediately reverted to his favoured 4-4-2 formation against the Saddlers.

And Frandsen enjoyed an impressive debut on Saturday with the statistics from Opta backing up that impression.

The Danish international chalked up a goal assist for his pass to Carsley to make it 2-0.

He also hit the woodwork and, of 52 passes, 81 per cent found their intended target.

He had a 100 per cent success rate with dribbles and runs and, although only required to make three tackles, Frandsen won them all and committed just one foul.

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