Rovers chairman sets target

The former Manchester United midfielder's position will almost certainly have been one of the main topics of discussion at their monthly board meeting on Tuesday. However, having opted for the former boss of League One MK Dons in favour of more experienced candidates in the summer chairman John Williams is reluctant to make a change with Ince less than five months and 16 matches into his maiden top-flight job.

"We have 22 games left and the sooner we start picking up the wins the better the situation will look," he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"The longer we go without a win the more difficult it becomes for us to get those wins we need. The players and the manager believe our fortunes will change once we get that first win, but we all know we need that win quickly."

And despite Rovers having slipped from seventh in September to their current position of 19th after a run of 10 Barclays Premier League matches without victory, the manager will be given more time to turn things around.

Fortunately for the 41-year-old Ince, the fixture list is in his favour.

After Saturday's trip to Wigan, Rovers face Stoke, Sunderland, Manchester City, Fulham, Newcastle, Bolton and Middlesbrough before the end of January.

It is a run which is likely to make or break Blackburn's season but Ince cannot afford not to make the most of matches against teams currently outside the Premier League's top eight.

Rovers' chairman has set the team a target of nine wins - which would take the club to 40 points - to save their season but he stressed the players had to start turning things around pretty quickly.

"If you give Paul time, then you can make a judgement on him, but you can't judge somebody after 15 games," he said. "It almost seems now we are very judgmental within a few games, it's absolutely crazy."