Blackburn Rovers must keep the faith, says Roberts

2:00pm Wednesday 31st December 2008

Comments (6)   Have your say »

JASON Roberts has urged his team-mates to keep believing after experiencing a rollercoaster festive period both collectively and individually.

The Rovers striker has struck twice in three games since being restored to the starting line up under new boss Sam Allardyce, but knows their tally of five points from three games should have been so much better.

Roberts himself spurned a golden chance in the dying seconds to secure maximum points in Boxing Day’s draw at Sunderland before seeing his side throw away a 2-0 lead against Manchester City two days later.

Rovers will now enter the New Year still rooted in the relegation zone but, as the clock continues to tick on their Premier League future, Roberts is confident ‘belief’ will be the key.

He said: “The only thing we can take from it is if we keep playing like that we will not have a problem. There is a feeling there is a belief back in the squad.

“If I knew what the difference was between now and a couple of weeks ago, I would be more successful. We are though I think a different team. We believe 100 per cent in what we are doing and are united.

“We have got to be positive though we can put ourselves in a good position. We have showed a glimpse of what we can do.”

While Roberts believes progress has been made in the Allardyce era he admits to a sense of disappointment at not making the Christmas weekend the perfect period.

He admits though Rovers only have themselves to blame after his own wastefulness and poor defending destroyed hopes of climbing out of the drop zone.

He said: “There is a tendency to be down after what has happened but all we can do is take the positives. For 85 minutes against City we were the better team, we created chances and could have scored more goals. Once it all comes together we will be okay.

“Football is weird, especially being a striker. I missed the chance the other day and it felt like the world had come down on me. All I could do was work hard though.

“All the way throughout my career, I have worked hard when things have not gone my way and I will keep doing that to put things right.

“It felt good to score the goal. It felt like I had laid a ghost to rest and I am glad the game came straight away, strikers always have highs and lows.

“I missed the chance but I had to believe in myself and keep going and I will keep doing that. We have to believe, we are unbeaten. We will work hard and come back stronger.”

The next month’s Premier League schedule could prove decisive in Rovers attempts to ease away from safety, with games against fellow strugglers Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Bolton on the horizon.

Roberts though is refusing to look too far ahead, admitting it is important to keep the pressure away from Ewood.

He said: “We have seen how Newcastle and Spurs have been resurgent. It’s a strange league this year so I don’t think anyone is too keen to look at other teams and say, ‘They are in trouble’.

“Anything can happen, there is more than half a season left. If we continue put in performances like that I think we’ll be OK.

“I’m wary of saying the next few games are crucial because it piles pressure on us in terms of what will happen in the next five or six games.

“The dressing room is good. It’s positive. We have got to recreate it. We had a good start against Everton but let our standards slip and now we know we can’t afford to do that.”