JUBILANT Blackburn boss Graeme Souness paid a glowing tribute to Craig Short after the veteran defender inspired Rovers to a stunning 4-0 victory against Birmingham City on Saturday.

Short suffered a broken nose after being smashed in the face by Christophe Dugarry's flailing elbow but the 35-year-old played through the pain barrier to lead Rovers to their third Premiership win in four games.

"We've obviously missed Craig Short. He has been a rock since he's been back," said Souness, after watching his side keep a second successive clean sheet.

"I've never had to say to Craig once in three years 'come on, get at it today.'

"I've never once had to ask him to do a wee bit more, I've never once had to say anything to him at half-time, and I've never once had to say anything to him before a game to make sure he's at it and in the right frame of mind.

"He's an absolute dream to work with and those players are like rocking horse droppings.

"I just wish he was 25 and not 35."

It took Rovers 17 matches to record their first clean sheet of the season but now they've had two in the three games since Short returned from a knee injury.

And Souness believes that new defensive resolve is the reason why Rovers appear to have turned the corner following a rocky opening three months to the campaign.

"What we've been guilty of this season is playing good football but defending very poorly at times and that has cost us.

"But we came here and stood up for the physical battle, we defended properly, and then we played our football.

"If it's 0-0 then you are always in a game and your confidence will still be up there.

"What we've been doing is giving daft goals away and that's been eating away at our confidence.

"But that's a couple of clean sheets we've had in successive weeks now and I'm delighted with the way the game panned out."

Chances were at a premium in a keenly fought first half but Rovers then moved up a gear after the break and goals from Barry Ferguson, Lucas Neill, Tugay and Paul Gallagher sealed the points.

"It was a case of coming here, weathering the storm, and then it developed into a game of football and we took over and got some good goals in the process.

"The sending off obviously had a bearing on the game but I think we would have won anyway.

"I thought all my three strikers did well.

"I've got to give Gally a mention. He's 19-years-old and he took part in all the good things we were involved in. His anticipation, his touch and control - I thought he was excellent."

Now Souness hopes Rovers can build on recent performances and ease away from the bottom three but he's not getting carried away by recent results as he sets his sights on a survival target.

"You are never safe until you've got 40 points. Our aim this year was to get 40 points," said Souness.

"After that, the next aim is to get more points than you finished with the season before. And after that, you try to finish as high as you can.

"So we are still aiming for 40 points.

"It's not Christmas yet and we are maybe just starting to think that our season has started in the last couple of weeks."