MONDAY, May 7, 2012 – a date that will be forever be etched into the memory of Blackburn Rovers supporters.

It was the date when Wigan won 1-0 at Ewood Park to send Rovers down from the Premier League as Steve Kean’s reign reached a new low.

But going into the first meeting between the sides since that fateful night 17 months ago, one of the survivors from the match is confident Rovers are a club going in the right direction again.

Jason Lowe, a certain starter in tomorrow’s DW Stadium clash with Wigan (3pm), believes Rovers are beginning to perform like a club on the up, in contrast to the last time he faced the Latics.

He said: “Confidence is going right through the club at the moment.

“We just have to keep working hard, keep focused, take every game as it comes and keep trying to get the three points.

“We’re always learning as a group but we’ve got a very, very good set of lads now, who cover for each other and back each other up in and out of possession. It’s a very good team at the moment.

“We all get on really well off the pitch as well and I think you can see that on the pitch.

“Morale is great and it allows you to feel confident when you’re playing next to your mate on a Tuesday or a Saturday.”

Should captain Scott Dann fail a late fitness test before tomorrow’s match, then Lowe will be the only player to have started for Rovers the last time they met the Latics.

Since that dismal evening Lowe has missed just 10 league games.

And in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Watford the hardworking midfielder produced his best performance of the season and was named the official man of the match.

And Rovers boss Gary Bowyer felt Lowe fully deserved the award – and his time in the spotlight.

He said: “Lowey’s energy levels are as high as anybody in the league.

“He’s getting better and better with the ball and he works very hard in training in trying to improve his game.

“I thought he was outstanding at Bournemouth on Saturday and then he went and backed that up with a tremendous performance against Watford.

“I thought it was only right that he was recognised as being man of the match.“Sometimes those type of players often get overshadowed by the people who make a save or score a goal.

“But he’s worth his weight in gold for us.”

Bowyer also believes summer signing Corry Evans – who is forming a burgeoning midfield partnership with Lowe – is going from strength to strength.

He said: “We’ve said all along that Corry’s fitness levels would get better and better with games and credit to him and the sports science team and the medical team for increasing his fitness levels in-season.

“With having so many games that can be quite difficult, but we’ve managed to do that.

“He’s only going to get better and better.”

Rovers head to Wigan tomorrow chasing a third successive Championship victory – and Lowe sees no reason why they cannot get one.

He said: “We’ll go there full of confidence. We know we’ve got goals in us, we’ll assess their weaknesses and try and exploit them.

“There’s no reason why we can’t go there and take three points.

“Watford was the benchmark for us and now we have to keep pushing forward.”

Rovers have sold 2,255 tickets for tomorrow’s match but travelling supporters can pay on the gate at the DW Stadium.