DERRICK Williams believes it will be a case of who wants it more in this afternoon’s relegation six-pointer against his former side Bristol City.

Four points separate the two sides going in to the clash at Ewood Park, with Rovers looking to build on their Good Friday win at Nottingham Forest which kept alive their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Williams left Bristol City for Ewood Park in August and has been one of the club’s most consistent performers throughout the campaign.

He will be reunited with his former side who arrive in East Lancashire with four wins in their last six games to move four points clear of the dropzone.

But Williams anticipates a real battle between the clubs who are both in need of points with four games of the season to go.

“Both teams are going to be really wanting it so it’s just who wants it more and willing to go that extra yard,” he said.

“It’s going to be a massive game and I’m looking forward to it.

“They are two massive clubs, two very good squads and it’s a bit of a shame – but we have to put that to one side and we as a team have to want it more than them and we have to go in to it expecting a battle.

“We were talking about that after the (Nottingham Forest) game – saying how big it is.

“We have to focus all of our energies and concentration in to that one and see how it goes.

“If we play how we did against Forest we will get something.”

Rovers’ hopes of avoiding the drop looked bleak after their last outing at Ewood Park nine days ago, where they conceded twice in the opening 10 minutes to lose 2-0 against Barnsley.

Their form at Ewood had been good going in to that, picking up 11 points from an unbeaten five-game run in the league.

And ahead of their penultimate home game of the season, Williams said: “It was disappointing, we expected so much more from the Barnsley game and really shot ourselves in the foot.

“Two goals in six minutes, we killed ourselves.

“It’s crazy how much the feelings change so much.

“It was good result (at Forest) and we just need to take that in to Monday.

“We have to just take it one game at a time now and that’s what everyone in the group is thinking, we can’t think too far ahead.

“Forest was one down, we have to tick that off the list and go again on Monday and bring in the hard work and determination that we showed on Friday and we will be okay.”

Rovers went with a back three at Forest with Williams operating as a left-wing back.

It was a role he used to operate in during his days at Bristol City, where he played 131 times between 2013 and 2016.

And he was pleased to be part of a back line which helped Rovers to a first win, and clean sheet, on the road since November.

He added: “It was important, a clean sheet as well.

“It was nice to get a clean sheet because we have conceded some poor goals but we defended well as a team.

“It’s a hard shift, but I’m more than happy to do it for the team if it means more results like that.”