Following my optimism that came from the win at Bolton, Rovers went and made things look shit again by throwing away games at Fulham and at home to Stoke.

At Fulham, a 3-0 defeat in a game most have said we were on top in. In fact, when my Dad asked Dunny (he’s still dry lining his house) what happened, Dunny said, “We battered them!”

As I said about the Everton match. A bad day at the office. Move on and forget about it.

Then came the Stoke game. Reverting back to one up front didn’t work in a game where had we attacked from the outset, we could well have taken the points.

Despite being the hero against Burnley, Franco Di Santo is going to have to accept some flak now. He’s constantly preferred up front instead of the other (admittedly limited) options, yet he has still only scored once.

In the past three games he has missed four one-on-ones with keepers. One at Bolton, two at Fulham and one against Stoke which would have given us the win.

Granted, we were unlucky on Saturday as both keepers were in form (Robbo for England anyone?), and N’Zonzi saw his shot come agonisingly back off the post, but the result was not good enough, especially as it would have put us back above Burnley, who’s last minute consolation saw them draw level with us on goal difference!

With any luck, we’ll up our game in the cup match with Chelsea tomorrow. A win there and a semi-final appearance would really make our season at the moment!

On-loan Chelsea striker Franco di Santo has quickly made an impression on the Blackburn Rovers staff and supporters, according to one fan.

Dan Clough, journalist and writer behind Blackburn fansite The Rovers Return, believes that after scoring his first goal for the club, against arch rivals Burnley on Sunday, the 20-year-old striker has already endeared himself to the Ewood Park faithful.

“After Sunday he’s a hero,” Clough said.

“Scoring against Burnley means he is part of Rovers’ history. We were chanting his name, so I think we like him.

“He’s skilful, quick, good on the ball and likes to take defenders on. His height is also an advantage as he’s useful with his head as well.

“Manager Sam Allardyce has been selecting his squad around the in-form David Dunn playing in the hole behind a lone striker, and it appears he enjoys playing with Dunn.”

Di Santo has had to wait for his opportunity to impress under Allardyce. He was a substitute for the first few games of the season, and his first start – against Sunderland – ended abruptly after a 13th-minute injury.

But, after getting a full game in his side’s victory against Aston Villa, the 6ft 4in Argentine has started successive games against Arsenal and Burnley, and put in increasingly impressive performances.

“He’s not featured all that often until recently,” Clough agreed.

“Jason Roberts was preferred early on but he’s recently been dropped and Di Santo has taken his place. He’s a real handful and excellent on the ball, as well as being very quick.

“He was a constant thorn in the Burnley defence’s side on Sunday and capped it off with a crucial goal.”

That goal, and a clever assist he also provided for Dunn, earned the youngster a rousing reception when he was withdrawn, and Di Santo himself seems to have settled in well in the north-west.

“I am very happy at Blackburn,” he said this week.

“I am very happy to be here because the manager has given me the opportunity to play, to improve and gain experience and I hope to get better and better over the next few games.

“I have the ambition to be able to play in every kind of style so if I have problems in certain areas, I want to work harder to fit in with that particular way.”

His temporary manager has also been keen to praise the youngster, who is ineligible for selection when Blackburn travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Allardyce believes after his recent performances Di Santo, who is expected to hold talks with Carlo Ancelotti later this week, will certainly be heading back to Chelsea when his loan expires in January.

“The lad is learning his trade and now he knows he can score in the Premier League,” Allardyce said.

“He waited for his chance and now he is grasping it.

“As long as he continues to do what he is doing it will be good for him and for us and for Chelsea. We will have to replace him in January – either from within or in the market.”

Di Santo will be a welcome returnee for the Blues, especially as Ancelotti will be without Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou for much of January and February as they head off to the African Cup of Nations.

But Di Santo doesn’t want to find himself left on the bench when both Ivory Coast internationals return from Angola.

“If I go back to Chelsea I will try my best but if I stay here [at Blackburn] I will continue my education,” Di Santo said.

“I hope to get back to Chelsea and play, if I go back and don’t play, it is less good for me.”

Blackburn fans are also hoping Di Santo is allowed to extend his loan, but accept that such an outcome is unlikely considering Chelsea’s situation.

“I personally would love him to stay, and I’m sure all other Rovers fans would as well,” Clough added.

“Unfortunately it looks like he’ll head back to Chelsea as cover with Drogba away on international duty.

“He seems popular with the players and he’s a hit with the fans, as well as stating his desire to stay, but with the transfer embargo in place, I can’t see us hanging on to him.”

Di Santo kisses his Rovers badge after being substituted in the 3-2 win over Burnley. Hope Rovers don't mind me using their picture... (Sorry)

A young Argentine from Chelsea became an instant hero on Sunday as he nodded Rovers ahead in the East Lancashire derby.
He didn’t foul Brian Jensen. It was as much a foul by the on loan striker as it was by the Burnley defender on the line who also pushed into his overweight keeper.
The fact remains, the goal stood, and Rovers fans were ecstatic.
Franco Di Santo has recently impressed for Rovers. He has become the starting striker of choice for Big Sam as Jason Roberts fell out of favour after a couple of dodgy displays on his own up front.
And with fellow Rovers hero David Dunn in the supporting role, Di Santo has flourished.
If that goal itself wasn’t enough to endear him to the Rovers faithful present at Ewood that day, who instantly began chanting the 20-year-old’s name, kissing the Rovers badge on his shirt certainly cemented his place in the heart of every Rovers fan.
We may lose him in January, but Franco Di Santo’s name is well and truly cemented into the Blackburn Rovers, and Burnley, history books.
The recent revelation that he wants to stay at Rovers comes as a timely boost for Rovers, as recent comments by Big Sam have suggested he thinks it is unlikely the striker will be allowed to stay beyond January with the transfer embargo forced upon Chelsea recently.
It is likely those comments will upset Chelsea gaffer Carlo Ancelotti, especially the claims that Di Santo wants Rovers to win on Saturday (wishful thinking)…
But you cannot doubt the commitment by the youngster, who would sacrifice the big money and the glamour on offer at Chelsea to stay at Rovers and ‘continue his education’.
He’s expressed his gratitude to Rovers and Sam Allardyce for giving him a stage on which to shine, instead of rotting on the substitutes’ bench at Stamford Bridge.
Unfortunately Di Santo can’t play on Saturday. But it’s good to know that, despite not being able to play, he’s still a Rover. For now at least.

Di Santo with Rovers chairman John Williams

You wait for a signing and then two come along at once…

Franco Di Santo has finally completed his loan move to Rovers and was quickly followed by ‘the future of Croatian football’ Nikola Kalinic, for £6-million.

The signings relieve a lot of the tension surrounding our apparent lack of fire power heading into the imminent start of the new season, now just under two weeks away.

According to certain sources, we may also be tying up a deal for Man City’s Benjani, who would be available for a reported £5-million, leaving us with a bit of loose change to look into strengthening other areas of the squad.

Both signings excite me, mainly because of their age. Di Santo has impressed the Chelsea management in pre-season, and they now want to see him play some first team football. Ironically, he was signed from Audax Italiano by Chelsea, where he was teammates with a certain Carlos Villanueva, but he appears to have what it takes to make it at this level.

Kalinic is a proven goalscorer at club and youth international level and, as I said above and in a previous post, has been been labelled the ‘future of Croatian football’ by Croatia boss Slaven Bilic.

Nikola Kalinic in action:

Di Santo in action: