STEPHEN Warnock believes Blackburn Rovers’ defenders are finally getting the help they deserve after insisting a nightmare start to the campaign was not all it seemed.

Warnock has played both midfield and defence in Rovers’ fight against relegation this campaign and puts their new-found solidity down to a new collective spirit.

When Paul Ince was dismissed as Rovers boss at the end of last year, the Ewood Park outfit were languishing towards the bottom of the Premier League with the worst defensive record in the top flight.

Now Sam Allardyce’s Rovers have recorded five clean sheets in 13 league games, together with two from four in the cup, with Ryan Nelsen, Andre Ooijer, Chris Samba and Gael Givet receiving all the accolades.

Warnock though has now lifted the lid on the early defensive troubles, claiming the much-maligned back four were never as bad as the statistics suggested.

Having featured in both midfield and at left back regularly under Ince, Warnock knows more than most the arguments from both positions but insists it definitely was not all down to the defence.

He said: “I think you can’t single out just one or two defenders when you talk about the last few weeks. They have all been immense.

“Gael Givet has come in and you would not even realise he has only been here for a few weeks. He has been fantastic and Andre Ooijer has been fantastic.

“The back four are very hard to break down and we know that. Having played in midfield myself it is sometimes the midfield that has let the back four down and the forwards as well.

“In the early part of the season we were not working as team but we have looked at that and know we can put that right. I think we have all taken far more responsibility for what happens both in defence and going forward.”

Warnock is expected to continue in the centre of midfield for the remainder of the season, with Marseille loanee Gael Givet so impressive at left back, but Allardyce admits he still see’s him as a natural defender.

The former Liverpool man broke into the England squad at left back in the summer and Allardyce insists he could win more England caps in the future.

The Rovers boss said: “Stephen has a lot of competition in midfield for the England squad hasn’t he? But everyone knows his main position is left back and if ever they have a problem with Ashley Cole maybe they see the form Steven is in and knowing he is a left back, they might give him an opportunity to step back in there.

“From our point of view just keep playing the way you are playing for Blackburn Rovers and things will look after themselves.

In the long term I do see him as a left back.”