FORMER Blackburn Rovers midfielder Mark Patterson has told the current Ewood Park crop it is their responsibility to inspire the fans in tomorrow’s crunch clash with Bolton Wanderers.

With the derby rivals in the bottom three in the Championship, and still searching for their first wins of the season, it could be a tense night in the stands.

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And Patterson, who represented and enjoyed success for both clubs during his career, reckons that is why the onus must be on the players to generate an atmosphere.

“It’s all set up for one of the teams to get a grip on it because both sets of supporters are going to be pretty quiet I imagine,” he said.

“The players are going to have to go out there, put their foot in, and work hard for the cause. When you do that the supporters will get behind you – and when the supporters get behind you it gives you a lift as a player, it gives you confidence.

“Some people say supporters should get the players going but supporters pay a lot of money to get into games now and I think it should be the players who get the supporters going.

“The players have really got to treat it as a derby game and the team which does that, and digs in and battles, is going to be the team which wins.

“Knowing Neil Lennon like I do he’ll have his players fired up and Blackburn have got to do the same. Gary Bowyer has got to get them stoked up and make sure they earn the right to play.

“Close them down, put your foot in, win tackles, harass them, and get the crowd behind you. That’s what Blackburn Rovers supporters want.

“Blackburn Rovers supporters have always loved a team that will give 110 per cent, who work their butts off and are willing to die for the cause.”

Patterson may have a foot in both camps but his loyalty will be with the side wearing the famous blue and white halves tomorrow.

The Darwen-born, boyhood Rovers fan broke through the ranks and went on to score 22 goals in 115 appearances at Ewood between 1983 and 1988.

His most memorable moment in a Rovers shirt was when he came off the bench in the 1987 Full Members’ Cup final victory at Wembley – a venue he would later reach again with Bolton after spells at Preston North End and Bury.

Patterson helped Wanderers to the 1995 League Cup final as well as promotion to the Premiership.

But the 50-year-old, who still lives in Darwen and who will be attending tomorrow’s game, said: “My team is Blackburn Rovers so I obviously hope Blackburn win but I’ve got a great deal of respect and passion for Bolton as well.”

Wanderers sit second from bottom in the early standings with Rovers just one place above them after they lost 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Afterwards a report emerged stating that Bowyer had lost his job as Rovers boss.

But that came as a shock to Ewood officials who, after contacting the club’s India-based owners, issued a short statement confirming their manager had not been sacked.

It has been business as usual for Bowyer this week and he will take training this morning before addressing the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon.

“I know Gary Bowyer, he’s a lovely fella and a good coach, and I really do hope that he gets them winning games again soon,” said Patterson, who now runs a successful landscaping business after leaving his last position in football at Accrington Stanley.

“Gary has been in a difficult situation and I’m sure if he could have kept his better players he would have done.

“He’s just got to get the players fighting for their lives and for the club.”