'THE next game is always the most important'. It's a line Mark Hughes describes as the 'stock answer' when comparing the forthcoming trips to the Riverside either side of Christmas Day.

But you get the impression that the Blackburn Rovers boss really means it.

The Boxing Day clash with Middlesbrough is a scrap for Premiership points - and managers giving that priority is as traditional as the previous day's turkey on a sandwich.

However, Hughes is concentrating solely on tonight's Carling Cup quarter-final despite the gruelling league schedule that must sorely tempt managers to roll out the reserves and preserve their Christmas best for the hectic Premiership programme.

But it's an attitude that has served him well over the years, proven by a record of three League Cup wins with three different clubs.

And given that Middlesbrough were a scalp on the way to his last one, with Rovers in 2002, even the omens suggest the last eight tie should be treated with the prestige it demands.

"It's been a good competition for me and I was able to win it with three different clubs which I don't think many people have done," said Hughes, who also triumphed with Manchester United in 1992 and Chelsea in 1998.

"It was always a competition I enjoyed and I always took the view that I take as a manger.

"As a player I always wanted to win every competition I was in and since I've become a manager I've done that as well.

Following manager's orders, there's no way the players will be holding back despite the second Middlesbrough visit kicking off a festive frenzy of four games in eight days.

Proof of how much Rovers want to progress came in the way they stormed back with three late goals to knock Charlton out in the previous round.

Steven Reid said: "We showed against Charlton that it's a competition we are taking really seriously.

"After that result all the lads are buzzing and we are looking to get to the final and to win it.

"Against Charlton we showed great character so we don't want to put it to waste and hopefully we can get the same result up at Boro.

"Everyone that's in the competition now will be having an eye on getting to the final and it's definitely where we want to be."