RYAN Nelsen has revealed the key to Blackburn Rovers' cup success - enjoying it.

The New Zealand skipper reached the second semi-final of a remarkable first year in English football when he inspired Rovers to a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

And despite the heavy Premiership schedule that now awaits Blackburn - starting with a swift return to the Riverside on Boxing Day - it's not stopping the players looking ahead to the possibility of a cup final if they can beat Manchester United over two legs next month.

Nelsen said: "Reaching two semi-finals in one year is great but getting to a final would be fantastic.

"It's been so much fun and I've really enjoyed it, but we have been taking it seriously.

"We have a lot of respect for the teams we've played and for the competition, so we've deserved to get this far. We've worked very hard and managed to get the results."

Nelsen returned from a spell out injured as Blackburn kept their first clean sheet for more than a month.

The centre back was re-united with Andy Todd at the heart of the defence and their dominance over Middlesborough dangermen Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Yakubu was key to Rovers' success.

It's the sort of form that Nelsen is keen to produce every week, but insists he is no longer in the business, after almost a year in the English game, of trying to prove he can cut it sat the highest level.

He added: "I think I've done what I came here to do and there are no doubters now.

"But you have to keep your standards up week in week out anyway because that's what the challenge of the Premiership is all about.

"It demands that you have to keep doing the business every time you play."

While Nelsen was brought back into the side following his lay-off, Craig Bellamy wasn't risked on Wednesday.

The striker could be unleashed during the forthcoming Christmas schedule of four games in eight games, but manager Mark Hughes had no qualms about playing his strongest side at Middlesbrough.

And he was pleased to report no fresh injury concerns as he plans a return trip there for Monday's battle for Premiership points against a side one place and one point behind Rovers.