WES Brown is hoping his experience of beating the drop with Sunderland can help guide Rovers away from the relegation zone.

The former England defender had a glittering career with boyhood club Manchester United, winning five Premier League titles and collecting two Champions League medals.

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But after leaving Old Trafford in 2011 he was part of a Black Cats side that narrowly survived in the top flight on four occasions.

Rovers are spending the international break second from bottom of the Championship table after picking up just three wins so far.

But Brown, 37, is targeting his first team debut when Owen Coyle’s side return to action at home to Brentford on November 19.

And he hopes the lessons learned at the Stadium of Light can help guide them up the table.

“At the moment we’re in a relegation battle,” he said.

“I’ve been there with Sunderland. But I do think there’s games where we could have won. This league, from what I’ve seen up to now, is so tight.

“I’ve seen the higher teams getting beaten by the lower teams and we’ve just got to keep playing how we have been.

“We need to start scoring some goals and keeping some clean sheets.”

Recalling the key to successful relegation battles with Sunderland, he said: “You just have to stay together, believe in each other, you can’t let your head go down. That’s the main thing.

“Once your head drops it can go a different way, so you’ve got to keep the team spirit together.

“It was always the case that we knew we could play well, we just weren’t scoring goals.

“If we by start not letting any in, we can always score if needed.

“We try to keep it tight at the back as a team, all work hard and then we’ve got a chance to try and nick one.

“Luck always helps. There’s been many games where it’s gone against us, but it can turn and you just hope it happens to your team.”

Brown has struggled with injuries since signing a season-long deal in September, but played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday night’s 2-2 Checkatrade Trophy draw with Oldham.

The former England international hopes that will put him Coyle’s thoughts for the Bees’ visit a week on Saturday.

“I’m training so we’ll just see how it goes after the international break,” he added.

“Of course it’s frustrating, but I’m not one to put my head down. I just keep on doing what I’m told to do and hopefully I can be back in the mix for selection.

“It was a disappointing result in the end (against Oldham), but it was good to get 90 minutes under my belt.

“We came out in the second half a bit sloppy and let them back in it.

“They were more than up for it, they started quick and we got caught on the back foot.”