The Rovers had been a regular feature in the old Second Division for four seasons by the time that the 1954/55 season got underway. The opening fixture saw the Rovers lose by the odd goal in five at Liverpool before a gate of nearly 50,000 spectators. Nevertheless, the Rovers went on to enjoy a promising start to the new campaign, losing only three times in their next 11 games, although these were heavy defeats at Swansea, Fulham and Derby. The home game with Fulham was memorable for the introduction to the Rovers first team of young starlet Alick Jeffrey who, of course, would go on to create his own niche in the history of our club.

During this period, defender Bill Patterson was very much the jewel in the Rovers crown, and his sale to Newcastle United in early October tied in with a disastrous run which saw the Rovers take just one point from the next seven matches. That run was arrested in early December when Liverpool were well beaten at Belle Vue, but it proved to be a false dawn as Blackburn won both their Christmas games with the Rovers and scored 10 goals into the bargain.

The Rovers were now in desperate need of League points and at long last they began to put some decent results together. They completed a League 'double' over Plymouth Argyle and gained a useful point at Port Vale, before old rivals Rotherham United came to Belle Vue and won by four clear goals. February saw Rovers win away from home twice in three days against West Ham United and Bury, but the trip to St Andrews to play table-topping Birmingham City proved fruitless, with the home team winning by four goals to one.

The remainder of the season passed in an unspectacular fashion, with just seven points coming from the last dozen games. The Rovers' last League game of the campaign was a home fixture against the Champions-elect Birmingham City. Predictably, the visitors won by a handsome margin, and the Rovers were left to reflect on a season where they had lost exactly half their League fixtures. This gave them a final League placing of 18th - their worst finish since re-joining the Second Division.

The Rovers' FA Cup exploits bore a stark contrast to their League form. Watford were defeated at Vicarage Road in round three, before the Rovers embarked on a five match marathon with Aston Villa in the fourth round. Four replays were required before the Rovers finally killed off the Villa at West Bromwich. The Rovers' fifth round tie with Birmingham city was their seventh FA Cup game of the season, and their fourth in a week. Not surprisingly, fatigue played a major part in their performance at St Andrews, and the home team won by the odd goal in three before an attendance of nearly 58,000 - the largest 'gate' that a Rovers team has ever played before.

Leading scorers (league): J Walker 15, Tindill 13

Division Two
1954-1955
 
P
W
D
L
F
A
Points
Birmingham City
42
22
10
10
92
47
54
Luton Town
42
23
8
11
88
53
54
Rotherham United
42
25
4
13
94
64
54
Leeds United
42
23
7
12
90
53
53
Stoke City
42
21
10
11
69
46
52
Blackburn Rovers
42
22
6
14
114
79
50
Notts County
42
21
6
15
74
71
48
West Ham United
42
18
10
14
74
70
46
Bristol Rovers
42
19
7
16
75
70
45
Swansea City
42
17
9
16
86
83
43
Liverpool
42
16
10
16
92
96
42
Middlesborough
42
18
6
18
73
82
42
Bury
42
15
11
16
77
72
41
Fulham
42
14
11
17
76
79
39
Nottingham Forest
42
16
7
19
58
62
39
Lincoln City
42
13
10
19
68
79
36
Port Vale
42
12
11
19
48
71
35
DONCASTER ROVERS
42
14
7
21
58
95
35
Hull City
42
12
10
20
44
69
34
Plymouth Argyle
42
12
7
23
57
82
31
Ipswich Town
42
11
6
25
57
92
28
Derby County
42
7
9
26
53
82
23