ASHLEY Ward will not look back in anger when Premiership-bound Charlton Athletic visit Ewood on Monday afternoon.

But there might well be a few regrets as the striker can remember only too well the month of November when he and Blackburn Rovers looked quite capable of joining them in bouncing straight back to the top flight.

Ward scored twice at The Valley to inflict a rare home defeat on Charlton and will be looking to help Rovers complete a healthy double over the tabletoppers on Monday.

But he admitted that would be only a "small consolation", compared to the bigger picture -- Charlton having recovered from that setback to run away with the First Division.

And Ward believes that is one key area where Rovers must start to put things right.

"The way they have been able to bounce straight back from setbacks like that is one of the main reasons for the difference between the teams," he said.

"To beat the leaders on their own patch, things seemed to be going really well and we were on the way.

"But it's how you react to things." Ward, like most others at Ewood, believes Rovers are as good as, if not better, than any side in the First Division on their day.

But he acknowledged that they must be more consistent.

And that applies particularly to scoring goals, which has been a bitter disappointment this season.

The four senior strikers all boast far better records than they have produced.

"It's frustrating for us because we know we can beat any team," added the striker.

"But it hasn't been easy. All the strikers have turned in one of the worst hauls they have had as individual players, certainly in this league.

"We have all scored goals in the Premier League so you would expect to score in this league."

There has also been a great deal of chopping and changing, not least with Rovers having three different managers this season.

Hopefully, some sense of stability will now be restored, the best blend discovered and the players able to live up to their reputations.

It would be a timely boost to beat Charlton on Monday, though manager Graeme Souness knows they are a very useful side.

"They have some good players in their squad. That's why they are top of the league and will go up into the Premier League," he said. Souness is hopeful that Scottish international midfielder Billy McKinlay will be ready to challenge for a first team spot come the start of next season.

McKinlay, who has not appeared in Rovers' first team for more than a year, made another comeback in the reserve side on Tuesday night when he completed 45 minutes.

A long-term groin injury, complicated by other niggling problems, has kept McKinlay out for so long but Souness said: "The signs seem good for him.

"He will be pushed between now and the end of the season and he'll have a programme to get on with in the summer because he's had a year out.

"Hopefully he'll be ready for the start of next season. He's experienced, a confident man and could be a real asset."