Ewood Eye, with ANDY NEILD

FORMER Liverpool star Alan Hansen is notorious for whingeing about the standard of modern day defending.

As one half of what was possibly English football's finest ever defensive pairing, it comes as no surprise to hear Hansen berating his modern-day contemporaries.

However, I've got to say I think the Scot made a valid point earlier this week when he said that defending in the Premiership has hit 'an all-time low'.

While Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry continue to make the headlines for their scoring exploits, what about the men responsible for leaking the goals at the back?

Blackburn Rovers have been one of the biggest culprits in that respect this season but they are certainly not alone when it comes to bearing gifts, as fans of Tottenham Hotspur will testify.

Last weekend alone, nine Premiership games produced a total of 38 goals and of the 18 sides in action, not one managed that rare commodity these days -- a clean sheet.

In a throwback to yesteryear, Spurs and Leicester drew 4-4, Southampton and Everton drew 3-3, and Rovers came off second best in a five-goal thriller with Charlton at The Valley.

For the neutral, and indeed the controllers of ITV's The Premiership, it makes for gripping entertainment.

But for managers like Graeme Souness, these are the type of performances which cause endless sleepless nights.

Hansen puts the recent spate of goals and breathtaking comebacks down to five key factors: poor positioning, poor communication, a lack of understanding, a lack of organisation and a lack of quality defensively.

Rovers have been guilty of every one of those traits at various points this season, which is why they currently have the fourth worst defensive record in the Premiership.

In their defence, there are mitigating factors as to why the goals have been flying in.

The laws appear to be in a constant state of flux and the current offside rule is so vague that it has become a farce.

But until Rovers learn to tighten up and see a game out to its conclusion, they will continue to loiter uncomfortably in the bottom half of the table.

Last season, the attacking verve and flair of Damien Duff was undoubtedly a major factor in Blackburn's charge towards the top six.

However, Rovers ultimately finished sixth and qualified for Europe because Brad Friedel kept more clean sheets than any of his top flight rivals.

So the sooner Rovers discover their mean streak, the better.

In the last six games alone, sloppy defending has cost the team seven points and that's the difference between sitting comfortably in 10th or twitching nervously in 15th.

It's also a difference of £2.5 million in lost revenue as each place in the Premiership is worth a cool £500,000.

That kind of money would come in handy when Graeme Souness starts his search for a long-term successor to Craig Short, who may be in his last season with Rovers.