Blackburn manager Paul Ince trying to keep positive outlook

As Rovers now prepare to entertain current Premier League leaders Liverpool tomorrow, it is little wonder most bookmakers believe Ince will be the next top-flight manager to leave his job following the exit of his former team-mate Roy Keane from Sunderland yesterday.

Yet the former England skipper remains defiant. And, while there is plenty of speculation to the contrary, Ince is adamant he has the backing of his players.

"No-one can question the spirit of these players or say they don't want to play for the manager or the staff because they do," Ince said. "But we all know you cannot afford to keep fighting back all the time at this level. You can be the best manager in the world, you cannot do anything if players are making individual mistakes. We keep doing it."

Ince was particularly annoyed at his side's defending for the crucial opener during last night's 5-3 defeat, scored by Carlos Tevez, who put Aaron Mokoena under pressure at the far post.

It was sadly symptomatic of the slack manner of Blackburn's defensive work in recent times, forcing them to battle against the odds too often.

"We get the smallest player on the pitch scoring with his shoulder from a set-piece," reflected Ince.

"That is really disappointing. And it always seems to be that we concede a second straightaway.

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"We did it at Portsmouth and at West Brom and now we have done it against Manchester United.

"I just don't understand it. We prepare well and do the right things. I look at myself and the players look at themselves. Maybe we need to be tighter as a defensive unit."

Ince needs to come up with some answers pretty fast as if Liverpool beat his team tomorrow, the pressure on him is likely to become even more intense.

Blackburn's chances of snatching something are not helped by doubts over Brett Emerton, who picked up a calf injury last night, and star man Roque Santa Cruz, who is thought to have suffered a hamstring problem.

Santa Cruz's lacklustre performance indicated the presence of a man who wished he was somewhere else, with Manchester City likely to sign him next month.

The Rovers faithful certainly appear to have become disillusioned with Ince, who did so well in short stints at Macclesfield and MK Dons.

However, if their manager heard the barracking at Old Trafford on Wednesday, he is not letting on.

"The fans were fantastic," he said.

"It is important they were still cheering, not so much for me, but for the players.

"It is easy to have a go at players and the manager when things are not going well. But they have to stick with us during these hard times and hopefully they will come through it at the other end. Every game is massive for us now.

"Liverpool are going for the championship, so that will be very tough. But we have five or six games after that where we feel we might get some points."