Following an encouraging start to the season, it was a frustrating run into the October international break for Blackburn Rovers.

Having taken back to back league wins in mid-September to move within touching distance of the top six spots, a run of just one point from three games at the end of the month saw Tony Mowbray's side drop to 14th in the Championship standings.

It seems therefore, that there is plenty of issues for Mowbray and co. to rectify ahead of a return to competitive action with the visit of Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Here, we've taken a look at three issues Blackburn must address as soon as possible, if they are to start climbing the table again.

Get one of their strikers scoring

In comparison to last year, when Rovers big concern was a flurry of late goals conceded consistently throughout the course of the campaign, this year's concern has largely been at the other end of the pitch.

This summer's big-money signing: striker Sam Gallagher has yet to find the back of the net in the Championship since returning to his former loan club on a permanent basis, while Ben Brereton, who struggled to fire during his debut campaign with the club last year, has spent much of this season on the sidelines through injury.

That means that it looks as though the burden will once again fall on Danny Graham to produce the goals upfront for Rovers.

But with the veteran's only strike this season coming from the penalty spot, it does seem as Blackburn need something fast in order to rediscover the sort of attacking threat they posed last season, rather than simply relying on Bradley Dack to get himself in the opposition penalty area at the right moment all season.

Establish a settled defence

While Blackburn's defence has largely been much more solid than last season in the current campaign - seeing out a number of tight games in ways they may not have done last season - it seems as though that is now going to be tested over the next few weeks.

With centre back Darragh Lenihan and left back Greg Cunningham both limping out of the defeat at QPR in the final game before the international break, Rovers are now facing several months without two key members of their backline.

With those two missing, the onus will be on their somewhat makeshift defence to hold firm in the absence of two key components in order to keep grinding out results, particularly with Rovers' attack currently struggling to fire.

Start killing off games they are dominating

Already this season, Blackburn have seen what could be argued were two big opportunities to pick up three points pass them by on home soil.

Having faced newly-promoted duo Charlton Athletic and Luton Town already at Ewood Park in the first few months of the season, Rovers will have highlighted those matches as chances to pick up a couple of useful wins.

But despite dominating possession, territory and chances, both encounters saw Rovers find themselves on the wrong end of 2-1 scorelines.

Those matchups are not going to come around again, so Blackburn must start to learn how to break down stubborn defences such as the ones they faced against Charlton and Luton quickly, if they are to pick up the points they need to start climbing the Championship table.

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