PAUL Lambert has urged Blackburn Rovers fans to focus their efforts on supporting the team in his final game as manager of the club at home to Reading tomorrow.

Lambert was taken aback by the support he received from the stands in the 1-0 win at Rotherham United last Saturday which came 48 hours after he announced his decision to leave.

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But the former Borussia Dortmund and Celtic midfielder says he also was surprised that the club’s owners Venky’s came in for criticism.

And, ahead of his last match as Rovers boss, he said: “You’re just hoping the crowd forget the negativity, as I said last Saturday. Will it change? I don’t know.

“But it’s a time for the supporters to come out and get behind the players, which they always do, and then it’s up to us to try and win the game.

“And hopefully we can give them a nice send off and they come back and they get behind everybody next season.

“Their support been great and I never expected what happened last Saturday. I’ve had some big moments and some great send offs and last Saturday was right up there.

“I never expected it and I never expected the negativity either. I never knew that was going to happen. It wasn’t nice to hear and I hope I don’t hear it again on Saturday.

“The supporters are brilliant here, they’ve taken some hits, but they keep going and keep going and that’s a brilliant testament to them.

“The players need the supporters and vice-versa and if they get behind the team then that’s the most important thing.

“All I can say is a massive thanks to the supporters. They’ve been great.”