Get back to basics

Rovers are eager to get the disappointment of Saturday's defeat at Portsmouth firmly out of their system with a stirring performance against the Toffees this evening.

But for that to happen, Friedel reckons the team must revert back to the kind of high tempo in-your-face' football that made them such a formidable force last season.

The former United States number one, who was left stunned by the manner of Saturday's defeat, said: "We're normally an in-your-face team and I don't think we can afford to forget that.

"We do have a lot of good footballers here, but we also have to play a high tempo, high energy, in-your-face type of game.

"The Portsmouth result was disappointing but I guess the good news is we don't have to wait a fortnight to play again.

"We've got a home fixture straight away against Everton so we've got the chance to iron one or two things out.

"If we can come out of the next two games with six points then everyone will say it's been a good start.

"But there are areas where we obviously need to improve in for that to happen."

Those sentiments have also been echoed by Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who was disappointed with the way his players applied themselves at Fratton Park.

Rovers have often been criticised in the past for what the national media perceive to be a bully boy' approach but, if anything, Hughes felt his troops failed to punch their weight against a Pompey side who looked stronger and more physically equipped for the fight on the day.

"I was a little bit surprised by some of the comments (in the press at the weekend)," said the Rovers boss.

"One tabloid mentioned all the old cliches (about the Bully Boys') again, which completely surprised me because I think, on the day, we didn't show any of that.

"Okay, we got two sent off, but the circumstances were different from how one reporter was trying to report it.

"We didn't really get on the front foot, we didn't have any tempo to our game, and we didn't really press the opposition as we know we can do, and because of that, that's why we got beat.

"But if it was going to happen then the best time for it to happen was the first day of the season because it gives you a jolt in the right direction.

"Now we've got the perfect opportunity to put that right against Everton.

"It's a good game for us, and it's going to be a great atmosphere.

"Everton always bring good support and night games at Ewood are always great occasions anyway, so we're looking forward to it."

Good home form was the key to Rovers' success last season - they won 13 of their 19 league games on home soil - and Hughes is determined to make Ewood a fortress once again, starting this evening.

He added: "It's our first home game of the new season, it's a season where we expect to be successful, and we're looking to make sure our home form is as good as it was last season.

"A big part of the reason why we had a decent season was the amount of home wins that we had, so we are looking for a similar level of home wins and decent performances this time."