Blackburn Rovers must thrive under pressure, says defender Orr (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn Rovers must thrive under pressure, says defender Orr

10:35am Friday 27th April 2012 in Blackburn Rovers & Premier League Table & Results By Andy Cryer , Blackburn Rovers reporter

BRADLEY Orr believes Blackburn Rovers have to ‘embrace the pressure’ after insisting each player has to shoulder the responsibility for pulling the club out of the relegation mire.

Rovers will travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon at least three points adrift of safety and, with just three games left, Orr knows the clock is ticking on their top flight status.

Last weekend’s 2-0 home win over Norwich at least gave Rovers a Premier League lifeline and the January signing from QPR insists it is up to the players to do all they can to grab it with both hands.

He said: “All we have given ourselves is a chance. We can’t get carried away with that one result because we have got three games to make sure we are safe.

“We have to keep showing our battling qualities and producing moments of magic when we need them, like the two goals. We have to embrace the pressure and enjoy it.

“In a strange way you have to enjoy the pressure rather than let it affect you and go the other way. Hopefully that is the mentality and attitude we can show in the next few days.

“All you can ask is you go and give your all. If we accept the situation we are in and enjoy the pressure of needing to get wins, I think it takes care of itself sometimes.

“You just go out there and do what you are good at rather than worrying about making mistakes or going a goal behind. If you fill your mind with negativity all the time the likelihood is the worst will happen.

“But if you try, as a team and as a club, to think positively and believe in our tactics and what the gaffer is setting us out to do, the majority of times things will work out for you.”

Rovers boss Steve Kean remains under fire from large sections of the club’s supporters for his part in Rovers’ second relegation scrap in successive seasons.

Orr though, who will line up at right back at White Hart Lane on Sunday, insists Kean has taken responsibility for his squad and insists it is time the players repaid him.

“Behind closed doors the gaffer has been magnificent,” said Orr. “The positivity out of the man is phenomenal. It hasn’t surprised me because I saw the way he reacted from when he was under real pressure.

“I think at times he has shouldered responsibility when it wasn’t really him who should have been. That is what he has done when things haven’t gone well for us over the past few weeks.

“Beyond your footballing skills it takes a special person to be able to do that. You talk about leaders and he has shown it in abundance. For me a leader shoulders responsibility for his troops, when really it is not him, it is the players.

“We have a fighting chance with three games to go and if we can repay his faith in us and stay up then that would be great.

“One hundred per cent we as players have to take responsibility. I don’t think any player in the dressing room would tell you other wise. It is the 11 who are sent out and the subs who can affect things.

“The manager and coaches job is to prepare you and then come match day it is the players who have to perform and if it doesn’t go right, it is up to the players to take responsibility. I don’t think anyone has ever shied away from that. We are just trying to focus on the positive side and believing we can get out of trouble.”

Meanwhile the Lancashire Telegraph understand the season ticket Early Bird deadline will not be extended beyond the original date of Monday April 30.

Rovers fans can, until then, buy season tickets in the Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End and the Riverside at the frozen price of just £225. The price after that is unlikely to be announced until the club knows what league it will be in next season.