NEW fans’ favourite Danny Graham reckons ‘together’ Blackburn Rovers are forming a team that can challenge for promotion next season.

And the on-loan Sunderland striker has re-emphasised his desire to be part of their push for a top-six place in 2016-17.

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Graham made it three goals in six games as Rovers beat play-off chasing Birmingham City on Tuesday night to make it four straight home league wins for the first time in six years.

That run has left Paul Lambert’s side second in the Championship form table after a nine-match winless sequence had left them near the bottom of it.

And afterwards Graham said: “I think a good side is definitely forming.

“We’ve got a solid base, everyone is playing with confidence, and I think that first win (against Fulham) was massive for us because it can be hard to get out of those little ruts.

“I don’t think we’re far away from being a very good team in this division.

“I think we should definitely have got something out of the Burnley and Derby County games and Middlesbrough we drew away and beat them at home.

“Birmingham are just outside the play-offs and we’ve brushed them aside so I do think we’re getting close to being a good team.

“It’s just finding that consistency, which we’ve lacked before now, but if we can find it, we could definitely be up there next season.

“There’s a togetherness here that I’ve not seen at another club for a long time, so when you’ve got a close-knit group it helps going into games, and I think we’re benefiting from that.”

Graham will be out of contract in the summer and he has previously stated he will not be signing a new deal with Sunderland where he has endured an unhappy three-year stay.

But the 30-year-old, who was given a standing ovation on Tuesday after being named man-of-the-match for the second home game running, is loving life at Rovers.

He said of his future: “I’m happy here and I’ve stated that.

“I just want to concentrate on my football but I’m sure the gaffer will sit down with my agent and maybe talk about what is going to happen in the summer and we’ll take it from there.

“I can (see a future here). I’m enjoying my football, which I’ve not said for a long time now, and that’s the most important thing for me at my age.”

The win over Birmingham came hot on the heels of a harsh 1-0 derby defeat at Burnley.

And Graham, who is expected to lead the line in this weekend’s home clash with Leeds United, said: “I think we showed great character. We definitely deserved something out of the Burnley game on Saturday and I don’t think anyone could argue with that.

“To lose a derby is tough so to put on a performance like that after that result was massive and we go again on Saturday now because the games keep coming thick and fast.

“We were frustrated we didn’t get anything out of the Burnley game and that spurred us on.

“We wanted this game to come around quickly, it did, and we put on a performance and got the three points, which was the most important thing.”