I'd like to say he has, especially with Bolton up next. A win there would give us a lovely gap with the relegation zone which wouldn't be dented too much by a hammering by United.

From what I've seen of the last 2 matches, the players are far more organised and are really working well as a unit so I there is every possibility that we could be on the right course for a strong finish.

Steve Kean will turn out to be a decent manager for Blackburn, the carp he has endured this season from supporters and humiliation from the owners yet he's been dignified throughout.
Personally i like the man and i think he isn't getting the respect he deserves.
What are the Blackburn fans views on him these days?

It's very good that our defence seems to have finally worked itself out, 2 clean sheets in a row is good - and without Samba too.

It's begs the question; Did we really over estimate Samba's contribution to the side?

I think Kean has turned the corner ,i would like to see Rovers record since the Bolton defeat it must be quite good.If we had started the season this way we would not be in the bottom 5 right now

Let us imagine..a team with Samba and Nelsen at the heart of defence with a manager who understands the game......two clean sheets after 30+ games.

Whatever the plans of venkys and Kean bring in the future, we cannot ignore the ineptitude of a season and a half of their combined efforts.

My connection with Rovers has been damaged beyond repair after over 40 years of unconditional support,,,surely, that must carry more import than the weasel words of a puppet???

Dignified with his media slur campaign.

Koma, he did some ridiculous damage early doors that'll be hard to shake. Still dislike him as a man, he's improving as a manager...

Exactly - poor man, looking like he is turning a corner.

There have always been some positives in Kean's time. The main one is his connection with the younger players who he seems to have a good relationship with. Obviously the Yak was an incredible purchase - albeit not his first choice.

Previously he showed no signs of improvement which to me was the biggest thing - all "attack attack attack, panzers forward". Now he has reverted to closer to Sam's style of playing with "long ball" no longer a banned word (and for McT another Pedersen long ball caused a goal).

He has mostly started players mids in midfield, defenders in defence and less attack minded players and suddenly we look better for it. He is not dropping goal scoring players any more.

Additional bonus seems to be the Olssen's who are improving and proving a fixture - who would have thought we would have got a freebie thats slotted straight in and making the position his own.

For the fact that he's improving and looking to learn, as long as his trajectory of results continues upwards, then he has earned the right to do the job without barracking. However, its taken him a long time to do this and there continue to be big question marks about his purchasing of players and the continued big fail that is the Venkys.

Thoroughly enjoyed last night, as I did at Wolves. Pleasing to see us play more maturely and with sensible team selections and formations employed.

Very impressed with the application of all the players and thought the win was well deserved. Albeit Sunderland were shocking, running on empty and injury ravaged, but we have suffered at times through injuries so you take what you can get when it comes along.

At long last someone has worked out that clean sheets = points gained and Robbo had very little to do all night. Pleasingly the useless Korean missed the sitter at 1-0 or we would have probably ended up drawing.

Results since the Bolton game suggest the team has much more belief and confidence and at long last Kean seems to be establishing his best eleven. The priority has always been to remain in this division and we are now on course to do so.

Kean and the players deserve a lot of credit for maintaining their composure and belief in lifting us from the bottom of the league to this position over the last 10 weeks or so. Long may it continue.

If you go for a meal and the starters are poor, the main course shocking and the desert unsatisfactory, decent coffee and biscuits won;t change perceptions of the overall experience. My season ticket has been poor value even at £200.00 this year. A few results late doors won't affect that.

Arguably he has. It feels like we're entering new territory anyway with back to back wins and clean sheets.

One or two concerns remain but if Kean can keep this up until the end of the season then he'll win back a lot of fans. And if we start next season like this he'll have won back almost all of them. Although its still a case of "I'll believe it when I see it".

We've been improving since Christmas, bar the thumping at Arsenal.

We were excellent at Wolves and excellent last night.

I've never had an issue with the back 4 this season as a unit, the problem was always who was playing wide midfield, Pedersen and Rochina were utter liabilities, Hoilett clearly wasted and also defensively poor.

It is no surprise at all how much better we've looked with Marcus and Formica left and right respectively who have both been very good both defensively and supporting attacks, even Pedersen has played well for 2 and half games since coming in centrally for the 2nd half against Villa

I'd hope that this could be the end of personal attacked levelled at Kean as a man, an end to the pathetic protests and we can all unite again as fans and a club and continue moving forward, because Kean and the players certainly are.

In the circumstances Kean found himself after defeat to Bolton, both personally and his failings as a Manager, you can only admire how he has turned this around and applaud Venky's for sticking with the guy, QPR and Wolves will learn the harsh lesson of change...

All I've ever wanted is for the club to succeed and for Kean to succeed because he is our Manager and I feel as though we are on the cusp of getting there now. I said we'd win at Wolves and beat Sunderland and had no doubts about it, we'll beat Bolton and I'm still confident that we'll finish 15th

I should also not go unnoticed than a decent percentage of Kean's signings are really coming good, as well as his blooding of youngsters.

Lowe, Hanley and Hoilett have been utterly superb and 3 of our stand out players this season. Even Henley, when called upon, was excellent especially at Anfield.

Formica - finally made right midfield his, has adequately replaced Emerton and equals his running and effort to help out both defensively and going forward, denied a cracking goal last night by Mignolet.

Dann - was only a matter of time before he came good, formed a solid partnership with Hanley and I didn't even once think of Samba in our last couple of games.

Marcus Olsson - why it took us so long to get him back I'll never know, has been excellent and formed a great partnership with his brother on the left.

Orr - Can't fault him to date, defensively sound and has the proper pace a full back needs to overlap effectively. Got a cracking cross on him also, 2 great assists against Villa and last night.

Yakubu - Best striker we've had since Santa Cruz's first season. His hold up play, movement, link up play and finishing is just a class above. Love the guy!

We're on the up!

The mind still boggles how you can call Pedersen a defensive liability on the wing mcteeth. Allardyce deliberately played Pedersen and Diouf on the wings over Olsson and Hoilett because of their defensive contributions, and it was Kean's removal of them from those positions that started this year-long defensive horror show.

Its taken about that long to drill into Formica his defensive responsibilities but I agree he's starting to get it and I'm finally warming to the guy. There were numerous times last night where he threw himself into challenges in a very un-Argentine manner and his desire is great to see. Not convinced about how good Marcus Olsson is but he seems to have a practically telepathic understanding with his brother which is doing the trick.

Calling the protests pathetic will do anything but unite people but there ya go, wow seems unable to understand that psychology either. We're on the cusp of succeeding? Seriously? The expectation levels seem to have dropped by about half a league since Allardyce was in charge.

I'd better leave it at that as your ecstatic praise of Kean's signings frankly borders on ludicrous.

Why do you even support Rovers, it appears to be a complete struggle for you to find any shred of enjoyment.

Personally I feel fantastic this morning about all things Rovers.

Well sorry for being pleased with his signings, I am allowed to have an opinion. If every man and his dog is capable of wetting themselves over Salgado quite frankly it is perfectly acceptable to highlight that Bradley Orr has been a good addition that is also far more cost effective. RB has been a utter pain for too long and in Lowe and Orr we appear to have fixed the problem for now.

Does it just annoy you when things go right for a change? Why you can't just enjoy things for once and look to the future I'll never know, still so bitter about apparent poor signings and Kean been a terrible person.

In last nights team including new signings and emergence of young players:

Dann
Hanley
Lowe
Marcus Olsson
Formica
Hoilett
Yakubu
Orr (as a sub, but great assist)

Nearly and entirely new side, we've reduced a crippling wage bill, reaping the rewards of our academy system and playing very well. All cause to be very pleased.

Not for one second have I lowered my expectations, we were very poor up to Christmas, and overall Kean still has a well below average record. But he has clearly learnt some very valuable lessons, without costing us our place in this division, and we now show signs of a team heading in one direction, and that is up the division.

Orr - Can't fault him to date, defensively sound and has the proper pace a full back needs to overlap effectively. Got a cracking cross on him also, 2 great assists against Villa and last night.

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yeah, best to ignore the goal he was at fault for against QPR.

Things are certainly better than they were a couple of months ago, but lose against Bolton and United (both tough games for different reasons) and we could be right back in it.

Still, credit where credit is due, there does seem to be a better shape to the team and we're not as easy to break down as we were. Has Black made a difference?

He was at fault for that goal against QPR, but we won the game, he has also been instrumental in securing us 4 points, so swings in roundabouts really...

Yeah I have wondered about the impact of Black.

We will win at Bolton, and even if we don't, avoiding defeat would be a very positive result for us and bad for them.

We are far from out of the woods and I'm not that foolish to predict 4 wins on the spin, but I certainly think we will come away from the Bolton game with even more confidence and give United a hell of a game.

Beat Bolton and I'd tip us to draw or better

Hardly, I'm over the moon about last night. It was a very good performance against a good side and we dominated almost start to finish. I just get irritated by a total inability to keep things in perspective.

This season we've been the 5th worst team in the league and a considerable distance behind the 6th worst. How can adjectives like utterly superb be used to describe our players? Formica as good as Emerton? Dann as good as Samba? We've slipped a considerable distance down the PL pecking order recently and you seem to think all our players are as good as the ones we had before that happened.

I keep forgetting that you think Venkys policy of stripping the side of experience, selling any decent players and continuously bungling contracts is the way forward. If you can let me know who your supplier is I'll do my best to enter the land of candyfloss and rainbows.

Football is clearly a balancing act between attack and defence. Kean clearly has no issue in getting this current group of players to attack and score goals, our scoring record is up there this season, but obviously you have to be able to defend.

I'm excited because he has started to settle on his best XI and learnt how to keep it tighter at the back, without compromising our attacking threat, long may it continue.

Are we really going to continue to debate his signings? Half of you on here would have him burnt at the stake allowing Emerton to leave, who was leaving anyway lets not forget. Formica has provided the same industry and defensive discipline whilst chipping in with goals and assists, he is proving to be a very good signing.

I get the distinct impression that any time things look good you lot think I just pipe up with a 'I told you so' attitude, but I don't. I am a very positive supporter and look to see the best in a situation, even in defeat.

I don't know whether you just find it too gutting to see Kean get things right, the man who have all personally insulted over and over, and a large number of his signings and blooded youngster prove quality additions, having also vicious scorned every player he has brought to the club...?

He is getting things right and this has been coming since Christmas, what is good for Rovers is good for us so I'm pleased for him.

mcteeth 21/03/2012
Pedersen has played well for 2 and half games
---------------------------------
Printing it out now, Framing it and putting it on my wall

Wils OOJW will back this up, not only do I want him to play well but will also be the first to admit when he does.

His first half performance against Villa is about as bad as it gets, but since then he has played very well so long may it continue.

It should also be noted that we've tripled our goal tally from long throws in the last 2 games, prior to Hoilett's goals against Wolves and Sunderland, the only other time we scored from a long throw was against West Ham, Andrews drilled a low shot in from a tight angle.

Just pulling your leg mct.

Can't remember that Andrews goal. What season? Home or away?

I have been moaning on twitter about our long throws for a long time, saying it has been 3 years and we have yet to score from one.

My last rant came about a minute before Juniors 1st goal at Wolves

"Are we really going to continue to debate his signings? "

As far as I can tell, most of Kean's signing cannot get a game? Am I missing something?

Petrovich, Rochina, Goodwillie , Slew , Ribeiro , Anderson , Vukcevic .

Dann is getting a game, as is MO, as is Yakubu and Formica of late. Orr came on as sub yesterday, but played in the absence of Lowe.

Dann has been poor all year but is showing signs of improvement, Orr has done really well seeing as he has only just arrived, Formica is growing into the role slowly but surely after well over a year now and the Yak has been amazing.

As to the others what do you expect people to say? They have proven to be very poor as highlighted by results the minute any of them get near the team. So yes I think it is more than fair to continue to debate the signings made as this season has been a total embarrassment whichever way you look at it and also claiming huge positives for Kean that youngsters already at the club are now making the grade seems a little excitable, don't you think?

Let's see how happy everyone really is at the end of the season shall we and if Kean can get Junior to sign.

Ha, I too have moaned about them because it only a ever resulted in 1 goal, and this Andrews goal was actually the 2nd phase really as West Ham had already tried to clear the ball but failed.

It was at Ewood, 2nd half shooting towards BBE, we were 0-1 down at the time.

Was this game from the 08/09 season:

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10303~44940,00.html

"Inevitably Rovers' equaliser came from a long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen on the right, the ball was only cleared as far as Andrews and from a position similar to the one scored by Noble in the first half, the Republic of Ireland international drove the ball hard and low and into the back of the net.

It was Andrews' first goal at Ewood Park, his third goal of the season."

"Wils OOJW will back this up, not only do I want him to play well but will also be the first to admit when he does."

I will back up that when MGP has been excellent, MaccyT damns him with faint praise.

When MGP has been average, MaccyT thinks he has been shocking.

When MGP has been poor, MaccyT thinks he is the worst footballer playing in England.

However, it is clear and always has been that MGP is amongst our better players, so it is no suprise to me he continues to get a game and a regular starting position.

Bizarrely I thought Pedersen was a bit off the pace last night, but there ya go. Thought N'Zonzi was absolutely superb and probably deserved man of the match. Strength, tackling, some surging runs from midfield, good range of the passing, the guy is better than ever in my opinion. Carries this on until summer and there'll be a lot of clubs sniffing I reckon.