BLACKBURN Rovers defensive pair Alex Baptiste and Matt Kilgallon both felt Gary Bowyer's side fully deserved their draw with Premier League side Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Rovers defended manfully and played their part in a goalless cup tie which means the sides will do it all again at Ewood Park in a bid to reach the Wembley semi-finals.

And Baptiste, who recovered from injury to take his place in the centre of the Rovers backline alongside Kilgallon, believes the defensive effort from the entire side merited another shot at the top-flight's form club.

"We defended really well as a team, the midfield in front of us and Rudy Gestede up front put a real shift in," said the on-loan Bolton Wanderers man.

"We had some good chances in the first half and it was a great team performance."

Kilgallon, who captained the side in the absence of the injured Grant Hanley, felt lone striker Rudy Gestede set the tone for a defensive performance which earned Rovers a second clean sheet in three games.

"It was 90 minutes of concentration," said the former Leeds United defender.

"They had a lot of the ball but the lads worked for each other.

"Rudy is a massive threat for any centre-half. It was hard work out there but we are so happy with a clean sheet.

"I really enjoyed it and it's something to tell everyone about when you're finished."

Indeed Rovers could have pinched the tie with Baptiste seeing a header saved by Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in the second half.

On his chance Baptiste said: "I got free from a corner and I thought it was in."