JUST three short weeks ago it would have been hard to imagine Blackburn Rovers pulling off a famous victory at Old Trafford.

Graeme Souness's side had just crashed to a fifth straight defeat at Leicester City -- a result which consigned the club to 19th place in the Premiership.

Morale had hit rock-bottom amongst the fans and the general feeling was one of doom and gloom as they wondered where the next point would come from.

The situation was dire enough to prompt Souness to label the slump as the worst he had know during 35 years as a player and a manager.

But what makes football so fascinating is the whole picture can change with one good result. By that, I don't mean last week's win against Everton was the answer to all Rovers' problems. Both Souness and the club accept that they are likely to be in the mire for some considerable time, especially given the severity of the fixtures coming up in the countdown to Christmas. But at least they can now head for Old Trafford with renewed optimism having brought to an end their worst ever sequence of defeats in the Premiership.

For 45 minutes against Everton, Rovers suddenly looked like the side who romped to a stunning 5-1 victory over Wolves on the season's opening day.

Garry Flitcroft and Barry Ferguson provided genuine energy and invention from midfield. Steven Reid and Brett Emerton were a constant source of danger from the flanks. And Dwight Yorke suddenly exuded the authority of a striker who once famously helped to lead United to the treble.

Now Souness must stick with virtually the same ingredients again for Saturday's trip to the Theatre of Dreams because consistency is the key to success at this level.

One change must be made at the back as Lucas Neill starts a two-game ban. That could mean a recall for the evergreen Craig Short, with Markus Babbel switching from the centre to right-back.

But if Rovers really hope to triumph in one of the Premiership's toughest playgrounds then the real battle will be fought in midfield, where Flitcroft and Ferguson must somehow nullify the threat of the irrepressible Roy Keane.

Ferguson is starting to look like the player we all thought he was and his recent performances have reminded me of a young Tim Sherwood. He appears to be growing in confidence with every game and it won't have escaped Alex Ferguson's notice that the former Rangers captain outshone Edgar Davids on Saturday when the two went head to head in Scotland's Euro 2004 play-off with Holland.

Let's hope he still has enough left in the tank on Saturday to influence the game after a busy week of international commitments, because if Rovers are to succeed then Fergie will be pivotal to them.

Andy Todd could also have a key role to play, too. He was outstanding last season when Rovers returned from Old Trafford with a highly-creditable 1-1 draw following the first leg of their Worthington Cup semi-final and a similar display will be needed again against Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

But hope springs eternal and with Ferguson, Reid, Emerton and Gresko all set to face United for the first time in the Premiership, they might just raise their games accordingly.

The champions are certainly not unbeatable. But without belief, you won't beat them.