Kean: We can beat the drop

Steve Kean believes he is still the man for the Blackburn Rovers post, despite his side slipping to the foot of the English Premier League.

Blackburn’s 2-1 loss to relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday at Ewood Park only amplified the pressure on Kean.

Speaking after the match, the manager said injuries had made things tough for his side. But Kean insisted he was still capable of turning things around at the embattled club.

“We’ve got a group of lads who are flat at the moment because we’ve lost,” he said.

“We’ll get back on the training ground and we’ll continue to work and we’ll grind ourselves through it because it’s the only thing you can do.”

“That’s our job, when you win people will say that’s amazing but when you lose there are people that aren’t happy.”

“I think the fans obviously want to see us winning and I want to see us winning.”

“I want to see us in a much better position than we’re in at the moment but I do believe and I know the players that we can get back on the right track with a settled side.”

The subject of regular chanting from his own supporters during the match, Kean did receive some empathy from Bolton manager Owen Coyle, who is himself under pressure.

Coyle – who was delighted to see his side moved off the foot of the Premier League table – said he felt for his rival.

“The Blackburn fans can say what they want, but you can see the spirit the players have got for Steve,” he told Sky Sports.

“As a manager, I feel for him, it could easily have been the shoe on the other foot.”

“He is a great lad, I’ve got no doubts he’s a terrific manager, but obviously one of us was going to be smiling more than the other tonight. ”

“I’m delighted to come out on the right side of the result. It’s three points, the same as we play for every week, but with the magnitude of the game, given the position of both teams, I think anyone watching worldwide has seen a classic Premier League encounter.”