BRIAN McClair's easy recall of the times when all was far from sweetness and light at Old Trafford give the Ewood coach a different perspective into Blackburn Rovers' current predicament.

The former Manchester United star, recruited to the backroom staff by his mentor Brian Kidd, experienced the stress and strain suffered in the early years of Alex Ferguson's reign.

And, as Rovers prepare to take on treble-chasing United at Ewood, he is unwavering in his belief that his current club can eventually turn the corner and climb back to the top of the ladder - whatever happens tonight.

"I've been there, I went right through that at United," he said.

"We did struggle before we went on to win the FA Cup. I think we went a record 12 games without a win.

"So I know what it's like from the players' point of view.

"But we do believe that the reasons why Brian came, and why he asked me to come here, are still very valid."

Defeat, or even a draw, tonight and Rovers will be relegated.

With United's title chase in the equation as well, McClair acknowledged that made a massive game even more critical.

He is not surprised at this late twist of fate, with so much at stake for both sides and ex-Rovers such as David May and Henning Berg on one side, former Reds in Kidd, McClair and Keith Gillespie on the other.

But he also knows the importance to Rovers followers of any match against United.

"When you look through football, things like this are thrown up all the time," he said.

"You could say it's a similar situation to last night and Arsenal going to Leeds who have an ex-Arsenal player as their manager. "It's the first time I have come up against United and virtually a year to the day since I left to go to Scotland.

"But I've known people who support Blackburn and they have always looked on United as their big neighbour and they would be delighted to put a spanner in United's championship hopes.

"It adds a little bit of spice to it, especially with the position that we are in."

Like his manager, however, facing United tonight is short term. He is more concerned - and optimistic - about the long-term future.

"We are all professionals, we came here because we were excited about the job at Blackburn Rovers and nothing that's happened for me in the meantime here has made me reconsider that.

"I still think it's excellent here.

"There are an awful lot of things you find out by being on the inside that you never see externally.

"We have learned a lot about that and we have identified things that are problematic to us going forward.

"I listened to the manager speak and, certainly, I think I can back it up that we know the direction we are going in and nothing's changed in that respect."

"You judge over a season how well people do. "We think that Blackburn can be in that top echelon of so-called big clubs in England.

"For whatever reason it has not happened this year.

"You can look at the way everybody else judges the season in a sense that all you hear is '40 points' which is roughly a point a game.

"Now, in Brian's time here, he has achieved that figure.

"So, if you are saying that's your benchmark for doing okay, we would have done okay.

"You look back and things happen for a reason, both of us believe that and with hard work and a bit of luck we'll do better.

"There's no doubt about it."

Kidd said yesterday that he did not think he would be able to find the words to express his emotions if Rovers went down and his coach agreed.

"That's totally right, I think you would find it hard to describe," added the man who has never yet had to suffer the indignity of relegation in a distinguished career.

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