BLACKBURN Rovers are banking on an upturn in form to bring the crowds flocking back to Ewood Park.

A national survey has revealed Rovers as the Premiership club with the biggest drop in crowds so far this season, compared to the same fixtures last year, with almost 11,000 less coming through the gate.

But with Liverpool fans snapping up all 7,000 of their allocated tickets for Saturday evening's live TV clash, the stage is set for Blackburn to stop the slump both on the terraces and on the pitch.

And chief executive John Williams has conceded that the team's below-par performances are the main reason for Rovers heading the league, which was compiled by a national Sunday newspaper.

"It's not a table we want to be top of," said Williams. "But poor form is affecting us and there's no point walking away from that.

"It's an irony because the time you want the fans the most is when you are not doing well and there's no question they make a difference.

"But there are a number of fans who are more likely to come if the team is winning. Last year our away form was very good but the home form was poor."

Williams is also convinced that the change of manager has nothing to do with the absence of fans, as Mark Hughes was the supporters' number one choice.

"According to the polls we picked the manager the fans wanted so that's by the by," said Williams.

"We were delighted to get Mark and we are still delighted to have him. There is not the slightest doubt we have the right manager.

"It's a bit early to say but I have my own views about things that are affecting attendances in general.

"We try to control all things, we hold our prices and kids always get in for a fiver, but form is a factor and ours is poor."

The fall in crowds follows an overall pattern in the top flight this season, with only seven clubs showing an increase on last year's corresponding fixtures and just two of these, Middlesbrough and Spurs, have a rise of over 2,000.

Southampton have the next highest fall with 9,580 and even Everton's stunning start hasn't stopped their gates falling 7,678 on last season's fixtures.

The average crowd per game this season in the whole Premiership is six per cent down on last year.

Even Arsenal haven't sold out a home game this season, although they have only played one London derby.

But Portsmouth, who are only 249 down on 2003-04, are one club that Williams points to as an example of how home fans can boost results.

"It's an irony because the time you want the fans the most is when you are not doing well and there's no question they make a difference," said Williams.

"Portsmouth have got something particularly good going there and I've heard Harry Redknapp many times saying he's convinced it's made a difference to them.

"We want to encourage as many fans as we can but fans want to be entertained and see good football, so in the same respect they're not coming if the team is not doing well."

Rovers will be going into the Liverpool game trying to haul themselves off the bottom of the Premiership and halt a run of two consecutive 4-0 defeats, at home to Middlesbrough and away to Chelsea.