BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today thanked Rovers' loyal army of fans for standing by his players.

Souness has described the support given to the team during a turbulent season as 'nothing short of magnificent'.

And the determined Rovers chief is desperate to repay that show of faith by bringing the good times back to Ewood Park.

Souness has admitted that fans would have been entitled to turn on him and the players following some desperate home performances during the last six months.

Last Sunday's agonising defeat at the hands of Chelsea was the seventh time Rovers have lost at home this season.

But Souness insists the remarkable restraint shown by supporters has meant that his players still prefer playing at home rather than away.

"To say our home form has been poor is an understatement but I don't think we've reached the stage yet where it's a relief to play away from home because our fans have been very supportive," said Souness.

"Neither me or the players can suggest that our crowd has been anything less than magnificent.

"They started the season full of optimism, as did I and the players, and they've gone home disappointed far too many times this year.

"As we speak, I don't feel any resentment from them towards the players and I think as long as they see the team and the players giving one hundred per cent, then they'll accept that."

Although Souness has admitted that Rovers are now in a dog-fight, he remains upbeat about his side's prospects of beating the drop.

With 15 games to go, Rovers need a further 17 points to hit the 40-point target that the manager has set for his side.

And Souness has vowed to ring the changes if necessary in order to achieve the required results.

"With maybe one or two exceptions, none of the players can really argue if they don't find themselves in the starting 11 because we've been searching all season for a winning formula," said Souness.

"Now we've got different options and I'm going to make the most of that.

"I've got to try and find that winning formula soon."

Meanwhile, Barry Ferguson suffered a minor set-back in his bid to return from a serious knee injury earlier this week.

Ferguson had to return to hospital after some of the wires which are holding his kneecap together began to cause discomfort.

"Barry had to go back in this week and be opened up very slightly," said Souness.

"He's got wire in there, which will eventually have to come out, but some of it was starting to poke through the skin, which was causing him a bit of pain, so he had that cut out."

Ferguson is still on course for a possible comeback before the end of the season.

"The ideal situation would be to win the next six games and then we could say to him 'don't bother, we'll see you next season.'

"But the way things are going, it's looking like we are going to have to get him fit as quickly as possible and get him in the team."

New signing Jonathan Stead has been given the number 18 shirt, with Martin Andresen getting number 25.