Valerien Ismael's Blackburn Rovers seek play-offs amid recent defeats

Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael expressed confidence in his team's ability to compete for a Championship play-off spot despite a recent defeat that left them eighth in the table, three points off the sixth position. Following a disappointing 2-1 loss at Derby County, where they conceded two quick goals, Ismael acknowledged the need for improvement in handling pressure from lower-ranked teams and emphasized the importance of learning from such experiences. He highlighted the potential of January loan signing Emmanuel Dennis and challenged midfielder Todd Cantwell to elevate his performance. Ismael noted that although his team regained control after changing their formation, they failed to convert possession into clear scoring opportunities. He stressed that the players needed to be mentally prepared from the outset and take more responsibility in attack. With ten games remaining in the season, Ismael remains optimistic that there are still ample points available to secure a play-off position.