Blackburn manager Steve Kean has urged his strikers to be more clinical in front of goal as the club pushes for a place in the Europa League.
Rovers, currently ninth, travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday to face Wigan, and Kean wants his players to put away their chances to move up the table.
“We’ve had 20 attempts on goal in the last two games but we really need to be converting those stats into goals – hopefully we can do that against Wigan,” Kean said.
“We’re in a good position and we’re playing well. We’re creating lots of chances in front of goal and but we just need to finish them off.”
Blackburn lost 1-0 to Tottenham on Wednesday night but Kean took heart from the loss against their high-flying opponents.
And when asked about whether a European finish was a possibility, Kean
responded: “Yeah – we’ve got to look up (the table). We put Tottenham – a very good team – under loads of pressure and we just need to build on it.”
“The aim has always been to try and finish better than last year and in the top half and we’re going well at the moment.”
“We’ve got 10 points away from home and this time last season we only had six so hopefully we can add to that tally against Wigan.”
Kean also paid tribute to John Williams, who resigned on Friday as executive chairman.
“John has been here a very long time. He’s pulled the club through difficult financial times and it’s disappointing he’s decided to stand down.”
“I always had a good relationship with John but we wish him all the best.”
Kean also had some good news this week after defender Chris Samba extended his contract.
The 26-year-old had asked for a move away from Ewood Park in January, but has made a U-turn and signed a new contract until 2015.
“Chris is a quality player as everybody knows. There was interest from other clubs but he’s decided to pledge his future.”
“He’s settled playing at centre-back with Ryan Nelsen and hopefully we can see all the strengths he’ll bring to the club.”
Right-back Gael Givet, who failed a late fitness test ahead of the Tottenham game, remains a doubt for the Wigan clash while defender Phil Jones remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury.
Kean also revealed Blackburn’s two marquee January signings, Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina, will have to wait to make their debuts.
“They won’t be in contention this week as they’ve only had a couple of sessions. In two weeks we’ll start to see them as I think it’s important they don’t push themselves too much.”
“They don’t speak a lot of English at the moment but Michel Salgado and Roque Santa Cruz are helping them. We’re just bedding them in gradually.”
