Blackburn Rovers have not had the upturn in form they might have hoped for since their chance in head coach.
Admittedly, they have cut out many of the defeats they were previously enduring, since John Eustace took over from Jon Dahl Tomasson at the start of last month.
However, they are still not winning as much as they would like. Indeed, in seven league games under Eustace, they have drawn six and lost one.
As a result, the Ewood Park club are still far from safe when it comes to the Championship relegation battle.
Currently, Blackburn Rovers are 18th in the table, just three points clear of the bottom three.
They therefore need to start picking up wins quickly, and it seems clear what needs to change for them to do that.
Goals have dried up for Blackburn Rovers
There can be no denying that Blackburn Rovers have become more defensively solid under Eustace.
In their seven league games under the 44-year-old, they have conceded eight goals in seven Championship matches. That works out at an average of 1.14 goals per game.
Prior to Eustace’s arrival, they had let in 56 goals in 30 league games this season. That is a much greater average of 1.87 goals per game.
But while their new defensive solidity has made Blackburn Rovers harder to score past, it seems to have come at the expense of an attacking threat.
In those seven league games under Eustace, the club have scored just six goals, an average of 0.86 per game.
By contrast, the club had scored 45 in 30 Championship matches this season before that change, or 1.5 per game.
Blackburn Rovers therefore, simply have to start scoring more regularly. There is an argument, that they have now been given an opportunity to make a tactical change that will allow them to do that.
John Eustace may have to abandon a defensive three
In Eustace’s short time at Ewood Park so far, he has largely employed a system that has seen his side play with three centre backs.
Captain Dominic Hyam and Scott Wharton, have partnered with January signing Kyle McFadzean in those roles.
That extra body in the backline, has helped Blackburn Rovers to become more solid defensively, repelling attacks they were previously conceding from. The leadership provided by McFadzean has been key to that.
However, it does mean they have one less body further up the pitch, contributing to their attacks.
Given the lack of goals they have been scoring, that does seem to be restricting them in their search for wins.
Now though, Eustace may be forced to change that. With McFadzean having been sent off in Blackburn Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle at the weekend, he is set for a ban.
Of course, the club do have other options who could step in to maintain a three-man defence. However, those alternatives are lacking the experience, or may be a less natural option in that role, than McFadzean himself.
So given it may be a risk to rely on those options, Eustace may well be tempted to switch to a two man central defensive setup. Admittedly, there is a risk that could leave Blackburn Rovers more exposed defensively, as they were at times earlier this season.
It could though, also free them up to employ an extra spark further up the pitch, that they may need to strart turning draws into wins with a greater impact in front of goal.
Finding the balance between those two is something Eustace does not seem to done completely yet since he took over at Ewood Park.
Doing that though, will be vital to any hopes Blackburn Rovers have avoiding relegation this season. This tactical therefore, must surely be worth a try.