Steve Kean voices frustrations

Rovers boss Steve Kean has set his sights on survival and has set the target expected is 42 points... higher than usually required in the Premier League but about right given the tightness of the league this season.

Kean has come under fire in recent weeks as the Rovers have slumped to a recent record of played 4, won 0, drawn 1, lost 3.

But Kean although clearly annoyed was remaining upbeat.

Kean told the Lancashire Telegraph - 'What we have seen is bottom can beat top. There have been lots of results that have been coupon busters.

'For the neutral it is exciting but for teams not in the top half you look at the fixture list and think go and get your own points.

'The bottom three is changing every week and I am thinking everyone beneath the top is improving week on week.

'Maybe that is the reason why you are getting the results that will take the points tally I think to 42 points.

'You are going to need at least 42 points.'

Kean has even called for the players to use the frustrations of the fans as motivation to pull clear of the danger that we have fallen into in recent weeks.

The manager even accepted responsibility for the teams failings but has challenged the players to pull them over the line.

Kean continued - 'They are big boys, grown professionals. Most of them are international players and they are well-paid sportsmen.

'Use that apprehension and bat it straight back to the players.

'Say to them 'you have got us in to this, go out there in the next half or next part take it with you and affect it'.

'It is my job to make sure I get across to the players we need to pick up the points.

'I hope I can get across we as a staff, me as a manager, the players, we are taking full responsibility for the blip and it is a blip.

'We need to make sure we get the results and we get them quick and we get back to the feeling of that winning formula and the feel-good factor that we are moving in the right direction.'

Since Kean took charge the lads started fairly brightly if somewhat inconsistently before fading in recent weeks as impressive victories over West Brom and Liverpool.

But the bad run has kicked in and Keano has explained that he feels the fans pain.

Kean again went off - 'I am as frustrated as the fans because I know we have it in the locker, it is just about us hitting that performance on a regular basis on the pitch and making sure we don't have the highs and lows'

'We are not going to sweep it under the carpet and we have shown the players the good, the bad, and the ugly.'

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