Blackburn Rovers have enjoyed a solid start to the Championship season with the club sitting inside the top half of the table with ten points from their first seven matches.

The key to that encouraging start to the season for Blackburn has been their new-found defensive stability, with Tony Mowbray's side registering four clean sheets in their last five Championship matches, which is a stark improvement considering Rovers shipped twice in their opening two games of the campaign.

However, Mowbray's decision to move Derrick Williams from a full-back role to the centre of defence alongside Darragh Lenihan has transformed Blackburn's defence into one of the Championship's meanest backlines in their last five matches.

Williams has slotted straight into the centre of Rovers' defence and looked comfortable and composed, which should come of little surprise given the 26-year-old has all of the attributes needed to be a commanding centre half in the Championship.

The Irishman is more comfortbale operating as a centre half, but was forced to accept a role as full-back in most of his appearances last term, largely due to the form and effective partnership of Charlie Mulgrew and Lenihan, and with Mulgrew now having left the club to join Wigan Athletic in the summer transfer window Williams is getting his chance to impress.

Williams has not only slotted in and improved Blackburn's defence but he has also become a threat at the other end of the pitch in recent weeks, with the defender scoring two crucial goals in Rovers' narrow wins away to Hull City and at home to Millwall last time out.

Against Millwall at Ewood Park Williams produced arguably his strongest performance since his position shift, producing eight interceptions and six clearances, whilst winning an impressive 80% of his aerial duels which was vital against the direct style of play deployed by Neil Harris' visitors.

Mowbray's decision to move Williams to the centre of his defence has been completely vindicated and if the 26-year-old can continue to produce consistently strong performances, then Rovers will be a very difficult side for opposing teams to break down throughout the rest of the campaign.

It will be interesting to see if Rovers can manage to continue with their impressive recent run of clean sheets in the next few fixtures, and if they are to do that then much will depend on Williams maintaining his personal form and continuing to form a promising relationship with Lenihan at the heart of Mowbray's side's defence.