ROY Hodgson has a ready answer to the sort of run that ranks alongside last season's disastrous start - hard work, writes PETER WHITE.

And the Blackburn Rovers boss retains the belief that his team can still turn things around and possibly snatch the UEFA Cup place which, at one time earlier in the season, would have been seen merely as a consolation prize.

There is no escaping the realities of a Rovers slump which has brought just six points out of a possible 30 and seen them go from being genuine contenders for a Champions' League place to outsiders even for the UEFA Cup.

Hodgson is as stunned as anyone by their fall from grace - admitting it is a "disastrous scenario" - and he also seems to be as puzzled as the rest by the causes, even though he revealed every kick has been analysed by the staff in an effort to find a solution.

He also expressed the determination to reverse what has become a very worrying trend and knows that needs to be done from Saturday when Wimbledon are the Ewood visitors. So what is the answer?

"To keep on working hard, to keep battling hard and to keep fighting like we did in the second half at West Ham," he said.

"And as we did in the second half against Arsenal as well, because when you are 4-0 down at half time and you 'win' the second half 1-0 that shows there is a bit of character and fight in the team.

"That also means I have great heart for the games to come. There are 12 points there. We can win them all and that is what we are going to try and do." The remarkable about-turn in Rovers' fortunes has produced a sequence of results almost as bad as their worst-ever start to a League season which - allied to an embarrassing Coca-Cola Cup exit at the hands of Stockport - eventually cost Ray Harford his job.

Perhaps the magnificent start under Hodgson fooled us into thinking all was well with the team and they are now finding a truer level.

But, fortunately, the present run did not come at the start of the season so a relegation situation was not threatened.

Harford's team failed to win any of their first 10 games, collecting just four points. And Rovers also lost the next match immediately after his departure, co-incidentally at West Ham.

Rovers already had enough points in the bag this season not to have to worry about their status but the disappointment will be huge if they fail to reach Europe after promising so much for so long.

The first 10 matches of the 1996-97 campaign yielded just four points. Since Rovers battled for a creditable draw at Anfield at the end of January, they have picked up only six points from 10 games. And there is one very significant similarity. In both sequences, clean sheets at the back are lacking. Just one last season, none in the current spell.

That is the key to success, as Arsenal and many others before them have shown.

Kevin Gallacher is doubtful for Scotland's friendly match against Finland tonight.

The striker has been suffering from a throat infection and was moved into a single room yesterday at the Scotttish headquarters to cut down on the risk of spreading the bug.

Rovers will monitor his position closely with Saturday's crucial Premiership game in mind.

Parma striker Hernan Crespo, watched by Rovers for some time, is not with the Argentina squad which plays the Republic of Ireland in Dublin tonight and is in danger of missing the World Cup through injury.

Damien Johnson played for Northern Ireland in their under-21 2-1 win against Switzerland at Mourneview Park last night.

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