The Jason Whalley column

I AM pretty sure that I wasn't alone in wondering how Mark Hughes would approach his first job in club management down at Ewood Park.

Even though he was acclaimed as 'the fans choice' there were still some supporters not totally convinced as to his credentials and as we all know, Rovers fans are possibly some of the most difficult to convince at the best of times.

So now that we are two months into his tenure what assessment can be made of the new regime?

Over the first few games I think it's fair to say that it looked like the same old story with the usual mix of poor defending, lack of desire, no creativity and last but most certainly not least lack of effort.

I feel I must emphasise the latter because it is this that I feel has not only led to the rapid decline on the pitch but also the rapidly declining support at home games.

The amount of times in the latter days of the Souness reign that I heard phrases such as 'if they can't be bothered trying then I can't be bothered coming' are too many to mention.

Over the last few weeks though there's been a noticeable change in effort from all the players culminating in the vital win at Fulham on Saturday.

When man of the match Paul Dickov was pressed on Rovers gameplan he remarked that they put great stock in playing at a high tempo because they are confident that their fitness is superior to their opponents.

Now if I'd heard anyone say the words 'superior fitness' and Blackburn Rovers' in the same sentence in the last 18 months I'd have been calling for the men in white coats, but the change in this group of players is a marked one, if you'll pardon the pun.

Tugay, who with respect is not known for his closing down of opponents, is tearing around the pitch like a teenager.

Emerton is looking for the ball rather than looking for the full back to hide behind and Ferguson looks as good as any central midfielder in the country on current form and the players' new found fitness is a massive reason for this.

The point is, it should be a pre-requisite for a professional footballer to be fit, for him not to be is a slight on the word 'professional'.

There can be no more damning indictment on Graeme Souness than the fact that the players he left behind were at a sub-standard fitness level. He can have all the medals he likes in his locker but if he didn't have the ability to prepare his players right by getting them fit we're far better off without him, and we get penalties now too!

I don't want to be too bullish about our ability to retain our Premiership status at the moment (remember Brian Kidd?) but we're on the right road and it's a good feeling.

He may not have a magic wand but the way the transformation is progressing under Hughes I expect to see him walk across the River Darwen should our safety be assured come the end of the season.