Exclusive: Valerien Ismael sent clear warning on Blackburn Rovers future if results dip further | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told FLW his verdict on Valerien Ismael's start to life at Blackburn Rovers

Don Goodman has claimed that Valerien Ismael will know his position at Blackburn Rovers will come under threat if he fails to deliver results.

The 49-year-old arrived at Ewood Park at the end of February as a replacement for the departed John Eustace.

He joined with the club firmly in the mix for a play-off place, but has yet to oversee a single victory after four games in charge.

Blackburn have earned just one point from a possible 12 under Ismael, which has put the former Barnsley, West Brom and Watford manager under some early pressure at Ewood Park.

Don Goodman issues warning to Ismael

Goodman has claimed that Ismael is experienced enough with English football to know he needs results quickly to keep his position.

He has offered some sympathy to the Croatian, claiming he has arrived at a bad time due to over-performing under Eustace prior to his move to Derby County.

“I think Valerien Ismael probably knows the score,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“Obviously he’s managed in England before at Barnsley, West Bromwich Albion and Watford, and he knows that, at the end of the day, if as a head coach or manager you don’t achieve expectations of a football club then you’re not really going to last very long.

“Unfortunately for Valerien Ismael, I think Blackburn Rovers under John Eustace were massively, massively over-achieving and Valerien has gone in at a time when everything is leveling off really for Blackburn.

“I think they probably find themselves somewhere in the table where they belong.

“But he’ll be aware, if results don’t pick up his job will be under threat.”

Blackburn are currently ninth in the Championship table, five points adrift of the play-off places with only eight games remaining in the regular season.

Ismael needs that first win to ease the pressure

If Ismael doesn’t get that first win under his belt soon, then this could prove a very short-lived stint in charge at the Lancashire outfit.

He was not the most inspiring of candidates to take over from Eustace given his record at West Brom and Watford was quite poor.

Ismael is now overseeing the destruction of the club’s play-off hopes, which will be much to the frustration of supporters.

Eustace has earned three wins in a row prior to the international break with Derby, and keeping the Rams in the Championship has become a distinct possibility again, which only worsens the feeling at Ewood Park.