'It's time to see results'

Four defeats at Ewood Park have left Valerien Ismael scratching his head

Four home games (not including the abandoned match against Ipswich), and it's four defeats for Blackburn Rovers.

It's the third game in succession (including the Ipswich washout) that head coach Valerien Ismael has been left angry, frustrated and bemoaning the luck of his team with decisions by officials or authorities.

Ismael must be furious that his team have nothing to show for their efforts, though a lot of it has been self-inflicted.

They led Birmingham in August after 90 minutes and somehow managed to lose, a first-half sending-off against Norwich was a big factor in their next defeat and they surrendered a lead against Swansea by conceding two goals that could have been avoided.

Goncalo Franco's volley on the stroke of half-time was a moment of real quality, but Ismael felt there was a lack of pressure on the ball in the build-up. That was a continuing theme from Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Charlton.

The second goal just can't happen at this level. Substitute Augustus Kargbo was culpable potentially three times. A poor touch, a loss of possession, and for one of the quickest players on the pitch, there was a real lack of intensity to sprint back to make an attempt to stop the counter-attack.

Now, to the real talking point of the match. From high in the Jack Walker Stand, my first instinct was a penalty or potentially a free-kick for a foul on Todd Cantwell. My first instinct at West Brom on the opening day was that Yuki Ohashi should have been awarded a spot-kick, and Saturday's handball at Charlton also looked like a penalty.

You can understand the frustration for the players and management, but, putting those decisions aside, the league table tells its own story. Two victories and five defeats in seven matches. Six goals scored and 10 conceded.

The early signs are that goals may be an issue. If Cantwell isn't scoring, who is? Is whoever is asked to play in the number nine position being given the service to score goals? I don't leave games feeling that Ohashi should have done better or Andri Gudjohnsen could have had a hat-trick. Makhtar Gueye looks surplus to requirements. It's an area of concern.

The centre of defence has had four different partnerships in eight games. They'll be hoping to find the right combination and stick to it if Hayden Carter can stay fit.

On the plus side, the centre of midfield has seen Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Sondre Tronstad look the best pairing, and Ryan Alebiosu has made a very positive start at right-back.

In the past couple of games, the influence of Lewis Travis, Dom Hyam and Danny Batth - who have 1,800 Championship appearances between them - has been missed, but it doesn't really help anyone thinking that way.

Ismael told me last night that the bedding-in process for his new players from overseas has come to an end and he expects results.

"I think we gave enough time to everyone to settle, to adapt to the transition, to come to a new country, a new league," he said.

"We didn't rush players. We gave them time and assessed them, but now I think it's time to assess the performance, and now it's game-to-game with the performance.

"We have an almost full squad at the minute in all positions. So we need that competition."

Rovers host Stoke on Saturday lunchtime before the international break - they'll be desperate to end this wait for a home victory before the majority of the other sides play.