DAVID Dunn believes the Ewood Park faithful can play a key role in securing Premier League safety – after appeal-ing for frustrated fans not to give up on the football club.

The Blackburn Rovers midfielder says he understands the concern among supporters after a turbulent 2011 but insists the players need backing now more than ever.

With Rovers rock bottom of the Premier League ahead of this afternoon's visit of Fulham, owners Venky's and manager Steve Kean have attracted increasing anger for their part in the club's slide.

A group of supporters started a 24-hour protest against the management of the football club at Ewood Park yesterday, with a demonstration march also planned pre match.

Dunn is confident all fans involved have the best interests of the club at heart but is calling for supporters to focus on roaring Rovers to victory and out of the drop zone this afternoon.

Dunn said: “Blackburn Rovers fans are passionate about their football club and I am certain they all want to do good by the club by what they are doing. But for us to flourish, we need a positive atmosphere.

“Even when the boos are not directed at any individual out there and just at the situation in general, it does not make things easy.

“I have always said in my career if you are a confident player you will play better than if you are not confident. Confidence plays an important part in football.

“I would imagine being a young player in such a hostile atmosphere as it has been at times this season is very, very difficult. I remember when I was young at Rovers and we got relegated that was very hard, but it was nothing like it has been this season.”

During two spells at the club, Rovers supporter Dunn has made more than 250 league appearances, experiencing relegation, promotion and league cup success.

He is now a senior member of a young and inexperienced Rovers squad, having recently seen the club field their youngest ever Premier League side, and believes the 'kids' need encouragement to thrive.

“When results have not been great and communication has not been as good it should have been, you are going to have unrest with any supporters, it is like any club,” he said.

“What I do think is they are venting their frustrations towards the wrong people.

“I have had a lot of good support from the Blackburn fans. They have helped me so much and it would be fantastic if they could do the same for the young lads we have got coming through here.

“I will stand by what I said before and that is you have to be realistic and by creating that hostile environment for such a young team it does not really help anything.”

With Venky's yet to deliver on any of their promises when they bought the club a little more than a year ago, Rovers' future has long been shrouded in uncertainty.

But, while Dunn understands the concern, he believes a united Ewood Park can only help the club's cause.

He said: “I totally understand people have frustrations and concerns around the football club at the moment, we are all frustrated, but we have to over come that on the football pitch.

“We have to to try to stick together and try to make Ewood Park a difficult place for the opposition to come to again.

“There is no doubt the manager needs some money to bring in new faces. We do need players and players that know what the Premier League is all about and who are going to make an impact.

“Quite a lot of fans may have given up due to their frustration about what has happened but I would urge them ‘don’t give up because we aren’t'.

“If you can find it within you please keep coming and keep getting behind our team because we need all the support you can give us. I honestly believe we can get out of this.

“I know Blackburn Rovers is so important to the town as a whole and that is why so many people are so frustrated. I understand that but hope everyone can find it in themselves to create a positive atmosphere on the pitch.”