How will Blackburn Rovers cope in their first season in League One?

Add as preferred source on Google

It was a dramatic final day to say the least in the 2016/17 EFL Championship season, with Blackburn, Bristol City and Birmingham City under the microscope as they fought to retain their Championship status. It turned out to be a day to forget in the history of Blackburn Rovers football club. Despite an impressive 1-3 victory at Griffin Park, Birmingham and Bristol City did what they had to do, and so Tony Mowbray’s side were relegated.

Blackburn join the list of ‘big clubs’ to fall into the third tier of English football in recent years; a club that spent so many years in the Premier League, and of course one of just six clubs to win the title. The glory days of Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer are long gone at Ewood Park though, and Tony Mowbray has a task on his hands to restore some pride into the town of Blackburn.

One thing you can guarantee with League One is that it’s a league that can suck you in as a club if you do not get promoted at the first time of asking. Indeed, many clubs who were most likely under the illusion that promotion would be a simple task have failed. Look no further than Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Charlton Athletic, Blackpool – all clubs that have been there in the big time like Blackburn Rovers.

If Blackburn were to take a look at the recent clubs to be promoted from the division in recent years, all those teams had a goalscorer. Last season Billy Sharp scored for fun pretty much every week for the Blades, Millwall had the prolific partnership of Lee Gregory and Steve Morison to thank, too.

Blackburn have a striker that produced in the Championship, so Danny Graham is going to be a real key player once again for Blackburn this season you would imagine. With the additions Mowbray has made, it would be a surprise if Graham didn’t find the net regularly, with some real quality being brought into the midfield.

Peter Whittingham, the long servant of Cardiff City made the switch to Ewood Park this summer, a player with a wand of a delivery in his left boot. Ben Gladwin, despite struggling in the Championship, has produced in League One before and, under the right management, could prove to be a key player.

The one signing that should stand out for Rovers fans is Bradley Dack, a real flair player that perhaps Blackburn have been crying out for in midfield. Dack has had a couple of impressive seasons in League One and will know all about the division’s defences and how to hurt them. Another signing made more recently is Dominic Samuel, a young player with bags of pace up front. A different kind of striker to Graham, but undoubtedly an effective one too.

On paper Blackburn have a squad that, without a doubt, should be challenging at the summit. However, as League One has seen time and time again, the quality of a squad on paper doesn’t guarantee success on the pitch. Rovers will need more than that. They will need togetherness, willingness, determination.

The Blackburn fans have seen managers come and go rather frequently in recent times, so it is important the club sticks with Tony Mowbray, an experienced head who should be someone the fans can get behind and warm to.

The start to the season will also be important. The last thing a club like Blackburn wants is to lose the first few games, with confidence taking a hit, along with morale and enthusiasm among the supporters.

It is just five days until they make the trip to Roots Hall to take on Southend United, and the fans that are making the four-and-a-half hour trip will be hoping for the perfect start, in what is a new era for Blackburn Rovers.