GRAEME Souness has praised the Blackburn Rovers fans for the way they've stuck by his struggling squad this season.

The Blackburn Rovers boss is calling on the supporters to inspire his side to victory in the two home games he sees as central to Rovers' survival hopes - against Leeds United today and Leicester City next Saturday.

Following the last home game, which ended in a 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth, a section of supporters expressed their anger by throwing season tickets onto the pitch.

But Souness insists that they have had every right to criticise his team this term for their pitiful home form, which has yielded just three Premiership victories since November 29.

"At home, the supporters have been excellent and they're entitled to feel let down," said Souness.

"They started the season with great expectations, as we all did, but we've not fulfilled them and not come up with the goods.

"We've built the fans up just to let them down again.

"That's been disappointing for everybody but all I can say to them is keep supporting us as you have done."

Souness also revealed that, whatever fate is dealt to Rovers in their remaining seven games, he will ask himself some searching questions at the end of the season.

These will include whether he feels he made the right decisions when he plunged into the transfer market last summer.

Souness said: "I question myself every day whether we go well or not and this year I've questioned some of the players I've brought to the club.

"In life, you only find out about people when the going gets tough and I've found a great deal out about some of my players this season.

"I'll look at who I brought in and ask: Have they done their best or not? And I hope the players are in the same frame of mind.

"The players haven't been angry enough and that's why we find ourselves in this situation. But we're the ones who've got ourselves in it and we're the only ones who can get ourselves out of it.

"We can all talk a good game but when you are in our position and you cross the white line, the talking stops.

"So what if you make a bad pass? So what if you miss a chance? It's what happens after that that really matters.

"It's easy to feel sorry for yourself, that's the easy option and it's not one that I've ever chosen."

As well as putting a six-point margin between themselves and Leeds, a Rovers victory would also set them up well for the Easter Monday trip to Fulham.

"Beating Leeds would be a huge blow for them psychologically and mathematically," added Souness.

"But the confidence from it for us going into the Fulham game would be enormous.

"If we don't win we'll have to wait and see how it will affect the players."

The match at Loftus Road kicks off at 8pm and will be televised live on Sky.

Barry Ferguson looks set to defy his manager's diagnosis and attempt a first comeback before the end of the season.

The Scottish international still hopes to play a part in Rovers' relegation fight despite Souness' wish not to risk more long term damage to his knee.

Souness said: "I hope to have Barry back before the end of the season but I wouldn't count on it."