RAISE a glass to Graeme Souness! That's what the fans should be doing at Ewood Park this Saturday.

Okay, we're not mathematically safe yet and still need another point from our last three games to be sure, but when we are, all credit has to go to Souness.

He's the best manager at the club since Kenny Dalglish, and in some respects he's been better because he's not had the money or the players he had.

Some people have whispered that Souness would be on his way out if Rovers weren't to survive but it's hard to get a manager from anywhere that could do a good job of keeping Rovers in the Premiership.

I can't understand where these rumblings come from. People shouldn't be so quick to forget that for two seasons running Souness won a cup and got us into Europe. That was absolutely fantastic.

Things haven't gone as well this season and some might say he's too quick to get involved personally with players but that's his style.

I like the fact that he's passionate and not scared to go against players who, with all the money they're on, have their own egos.

But he has dignity. If he did have to leave Rovers he would have a host of good clubs after him because he's proved he's a manager of modern times.

Circumstances have been difficult this season because of him dealing with losing players last season, and it hasn't been easy trying to replace them.

He has also lost players through injuries and I find it hard to believe that some people have criticised his selections.

Andy Cole is a signing who kept us up some time back so you can't have a go at him for that.

And now Jonathan Stead is keeping us up with his goals. He's been some signing and he and Cole have formed a great partnership.

I think Souness also has the dignity to admit that he isn't always right and I'm sure he would be the first to criticise the signing of Dwight Yorke, which hasn't worked out as well.

But in football it's how people respond to things not going to plan that really pulls a team through, so in a relegation battle Rovers have been lucky to have the manager they have.

I would love to see Blackburn secure safety against Manchester United this Saturday but if there's one thing that reflects badly on Souness it's the home form. It's been shocking.

That's why the players and manager have both had to show strength of character to survive because the supporters, quite rightly, have had little to get excited about.

However, Souness should still be applauded by the fans at Ewood Park on Saturday and I hope the fans get right behind him.

It would be the perfect way to show him support and thanks for the job he's done at Rovers.