WES Brown says Blackburn Rovers must demonstrate their fighting spirit during a crucial Easter double-header against two of their relegation rivals.

Rovers face two season-defining games as they travel to Nottingham Forest on Good Friday before hosting Bristol City on Easter Monday.

Those are two of the three sides directly above Rovers in the table, but the pair pulled clear with wins on Saturday as Tony Mowbray’s side fell to a third consecutive defeat.

But Brown says the players believes they can pull off an escape act.

“We have to half forget about that (Barnsley) and look to the next two games as they will be so important,” said the 37-year-old who started his first game for Rovers since Boxing Day in the Tykes defeat.

“If we can beat Nottingham Forest then that will keep them in it and we get the three points.

“I still have got complete confidence in the squad and I’m sure we can still do it but we have to remain confident and show everyone the fighting spirit we have got.

“After our last loss we have to start picking up the points.

“Sticking together is the only thing we can do.

“There is a strong bunch of lads, no-one wants to go down, and everyone will be going there fighting on Friday.”

Brown’s appearance against Barnsley was just his fifth in the Championship since joining Rovers in the summer and he says the players must try and forget about the pressure situation they are in.

He added: “You have to not think about it.

“You go in to the game to win it, play well, work hard and hopefully come out with three points and if you can then it’s brilliant.

“Unfortunately it wasn’t the case on Saturday and now we have to look forward to playing Nottingham Forest and be mentally prepared for it.

“It wasn’t good – even at half-time having conceded two early goals it was always going to be hard to come back from against a young side in Barnsley who will run around and graft so we made it very difficult for ourselves.

“If we can win the next two games then that will be massive for us, it’s important to start against Forest on Friday.”

Brown was recalled following ankle injuries to both Charlie Mulgrew and Darragh Lenihan at Reading last Tuesday which are expected to keep them out for the remainder of the season.

The former Sunderland man was partnered by Tommie Hoban in what was Rovers’ 12th different central defensive combination so far this season.

Elliott Ward, who hasn’t played since the opening day following an ankle injury, could come in to the mix against Forest, though Brown admits the absence of Mulgrew and Lenihan has been a real disappointment.

“Since the gaffer has come he’s tried to keep Darragh and Charlie at centre back and it’s worked fairly well,” he said.

“They had both been playing well so for them to both to get injured is disappointing for us as a team.

“They have been regulars in there all season.

“You want to be keeping your regulars and we are very disappointed that happened at this stage of the season.

“We all have to be ready for the fight though, as they were.”