Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Christian Walton is relishing the chance to close the gap to the play-off places even further as they gear up to face Brentford at Griffin Park on Saturday.

Tony Mowbray’s side have been steadily plugging away in the Championship this season, consistently picking up good results both home and away against some of the top sides in the division.

Their form has seen them climb to eighth in the table and just three points behind local rivals Preston North End in sixth. 

Up next is an away trip to Brentford where Blackburn will be looking to make it three wins and three clean sheets in a row against a side harbouring ambitions of the top two as we approach the business end of the season.

Two clean sheets have seen Walton go onto 11 and move clear in second place with in terms of the most clean sheets in the league, two behind Leeds United’s Kiko Casilla.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Walton laid down a bold marker for the Rovers ahead of their quest to do the double over the Bees in the league, looking towards the top six after two strong results. He stated: “It’s really exciting for everyone involved with the club to be just three points outside the play-off places. 

“It’s what we targeted at the start of the season, and it’s an exciting period for us now.

“We need to keep the consistency in the performances, keep going and take each game as it comes.

“The last two wins for massive wins against two teams in the bottom half of the table, it was vital that we got the points and kept two clean sheets in those games, so hopefully we can take that into Saturday.

“The conditions were difficult for the goalkeepers on Saturday, but it’s something I’m used to having been up north for the last three years.

“It was tough, but I felt the team performance was very good, going to Charlton and doing a job on a team that have picked up some really good results at home."

Walton also looked ahead to another three tough games as ‘crunch time’ looms in the race for the play-offs. He added: “We have three quality teams coming up which won’t be easy," he said.

“Two of them are at Ewood, which is a place we’ve done well at this season, so I think they need to fear us, especially with the form we’ve been in at late.

“It’s crunch time now, it’s the back end of the season and Easter will prove to be a crucial time in the season.

“It’s something we’re all looking forward to. It’s what every player wants to be involved in.”

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The verdict

There’s no surprise to see such optimism in the Blackburn camp after such a strong season so far, with back-to-back wins putting them right amongst it.

A win against Brentford on Saturday could see them move level on points with local rivals Preston and would see them move two points behind the Bees.

Walton has been in terrific form since signing on-loan from Brighton and Hove Albion and will be looking to continue that for the rest of the season.

The Rovers will be buoyed as they head to Griffin Park after triumphing 1-0 over Brentford last time out at Ewood Park.