'A step in the right direction for Ismael'

At half-time against Southampton things were looking increasingly bleak for Blackburn Rovers.

By the end of the match they were out of the relegation places after coming from behind to win at home for the first time this season and in the process ending the Ewood Park hoodoo.

A Southampton perspective might point at two missed chances for Adam Armstrong. Granted, you'd have expected him to bury them both having seen him do it so often at Ewood down the years, but he didn't.

You'd have also backed Rovers' duo Yuki Ohashi and notably Ryoya Morishita to do better when in on goal.

In the cold light of day it doesn't matter.

On a day that Blackburn Rovers needed to stand up and be counted they did. Particularly in the second half. They went behind to another poor goal, again self-inflicted but threw caution to the wind, went for it and were rewarded against a side who just can't shake off Premier League relegation.

First goals in blue and white for the excellent Ryan Alebiosu (his first career goal) and Andri Gudjohnsen completed the comeback and after taking the lead, they never really looked back.

Southampton's cause not helped by a sending off for substitute Welington who left a stray arm while challenging in the air.

Valerien Ismael was criticised for his changes made during Tuesday's defeat by Sheffield United so it is only right to praise the Rovers boss for his triple substitution that breathed new life into his team in this one.

Kristi Montgomery added a drive to the midfield, Ryan Hedges and Axel Henriksson playing their part too.

It's not been an easy week for Ismael. He's fielded questions about the quality of the summer recruitment as well as his own position. He will not win over everybody overnight but this is a step in the right direction.

The return of captain Todd Cantwell next weekend at Leicester will be a welcome boost but for now it's about savouring that feeling of winning a home game and the weekend feeling that little bit better.