BLACKBURN Rovers can ill afford to let their winless streak go on any longer if they want to remain in the promotion shake-up.

That is the verdict of midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe ahead of Saturday’s visit of fellow top-six hopefuls Charlton Athletic to Ewood Park.

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Eighth-placed Rovers will go into the encounter with the 10th-placed Addicks on the back of a three-match run without a win.

The downturn in form has seen Gary Bowyer’s side slip four points behind the play-off spots and eight from the top two.

Their last victory, at home to Leeds United four games ago, had left them sitting pretty in the top six.

And Tunnicliffe believes the festive period gives them the perfect opportunity to get back in there.

Rovers follow the Charlton clash with a trip to Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day and a home match against Middlesbrough 48 hours later.

And Tunnicliffe said: “We can’t afford to go into a dip of form where we don’t win for four or five games, especially over Christmas.

“It’s a massive period when the games are going to come thick and fast for us.

“We’ve got three games in eight days and if we can take a big portion of points from them it will put us back where we want to be.”

Rovers were two points of clear of Watford in seventh after their 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough at the end of last month.

But disappointing defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford to kick-start December means they now are four points shy of the Hornets in sixth.

Rovers boss Bowyer took few positives from last Saturday’s 3-1 reverse at fifth-placed Brentford.

But he was pleased by the performance Tunnicliffe produced on his recall to the starting line-up.

“Hopefully I’ll keep my place for Charlton,” said the 21-year-old, who is on season-long loan from Fulham.

“All I can do if I get minutes on the pitch is to try as hard as I can for the club.

“We lost on Saturday so it didn’t feel as good that he said that I did well but I will just keep trying as hard as I can.”

Rovers paid the price for another slow start at Griffin Park.

They have now conceded the first goal in 12 of their 21 Championship outings this season.

And Tunnicliffe said: “I can’t remember too many times when we’ve gone 1-0 up.

“To be fair we have proved we can come back and get points but we can’t keep saying we have to start well.

“I don’t know why that is but we need to sort it out quickly.

“We always intend to come out fast and we tried to do the same on Saturday.

“That was our plan, to start out fast and put them under pressure, but it just didn’t happen.”

Fulham manager Kit Symons has hinted that he may activate a clause in Tunnicliffe’s Rovers deal and recall him next month.

But the former Manchester United trainee is happy to remain at Ewood Park.

Tunnicliffe said: “It’s a great bunch of lads and up until recently we’ve been doing well.

“I’ve been playing reasonably quite a lot of football so obviously I’m happy.”

Rovers U21s take on Derby County at Ewood tonight (7pm). Admission is free