LEE Carsley believes Blackburn Rovers' indifferent start to the season could still do them a favour - by taking the pressure off Brian Kidd's promotion wannabes!

Rovers' failure to emerge as early contenders has been a major disappointment but the midfielder is convinced that, if they can turn things round, then it might help them in the long term.

"People have stopped talking about us as favourites for promotion, they are talking about other clubs," said Carsley.

"I think it would have been difficult for us if we had gone straight to the top and been there all season.

"Everyone would have been waiting for us to fall away.

"As it is, we have fallen into the background and we can get on with things without the added pressures at the top. "And, hopefully, we can make a run on the blindside."

Carsley, however, acknowledges that Rovers need to put a run together soon.

"The next seven days are really important for us," he said.

"We have three games coming up and they are all big ones. We could set ourselves up for the rest of the season.

"If we can put three good results together we can be right back in there. We're halfway in the league and we can go on from there."

Brian Kidd retains belief in his squad, despite their faltering start, and feels they will come good soon.

"It appears at times to me to be a confidence thing and a matter of belief," he said. "Because I am absolutely delighted about the way they have gone about their work, their application and their attitude.

"And I think it only needs a bit of a spark to turn it round and ignite it." The players also welcomed Monday's chance to talk things over when the staff and first team squad tried to pinpoint what has gone wrong.

Goalkeeper John Filan backed up skipper Jason Wilcox's view about the positive feelings among the players.

"Like in any business or venture, you have to sit down, talk about things and give your opinion," he said.

"And, to be honest, it was all positive. There was a lot of good stuff and people had their say on how we can address some of the little problems, such as breaking teams down when they come to Ewood Park to play defensively.

"Everyone believes there are just little things - for example, our patience, especially at home - which are letting us down. "For 20 minutes we play well but then we get anxious because we want to be successful and score goals.

"That was the main thing that came out of it, just to be patient and make the right choices at the right time.

"Everyone is pulling in the same direction. The manager has done a great job to get that and it's a good thing that these meetings go on every so often."

Whether it makes any difference will be seen against Palace at Ewood tonight.

It remains to be seen whether Kidd will restore Ashley Ward to the attack after resting him on Saturday.

The manager believes Ward has had to shoulder a heavy burden, after missing most of the pre-season preparations, and the players themselves seem to accept that the squad will be 'rotated'.

Carsley said that they regarded all the senior squad as being on a par.

And Matt Jansen, put on the bench on Saturday, said: "I had played three games in the space of a week. The manager told me to have a rest and we have a big enough squad to do that.

"Wardy had a rest as well and, if that's the way the gaffer wants to do it, then fair enough." The fans, however, find it hard to understand and like to see the strongest side play in every possible game.s=6f=helveticaf+bf-bos=6f=helveticaf+bf-bo

Saturday's game at Manchester City will be beamed back 'live' to Ewood on the giant screen. Rovers have already sold out their allocation of tickets for Maine Road. Season-ticket holders will be admitted free on production of book and voucher M. The upper and lower tiers of the Jack Walker Stand will be open and tickets are now available price £5 adults, £3 senior citizens and £1 children. The 500 Club and Blues bar will be open and car parking will be free subject to availability.

Ewood chief executive John Williams said he had not had any approaches, despite reports in Glasgow that St Mirren wanted to take David McNamee and Burton O'Brien back to Paisley on loan.

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