Rovers cult hero GLENN KEELEY tackles the big issues. . .

WE'RE just hours away from making another set of New Year resolutions, but Blackburn Rovers shouldn't need that long to figure out what theirs are going to be.

Top of the list should be to make Ewood Park a fortress. And it's about time too given the results they've had there this season.

I believe that if they don't lose another home game they will be alright, as five defeats on your own patch is too many, especially before January.

The win at Newcastle was a great result and perfect way to end the year but Rovers now need the consistency in their results in the second half of the season.

Their home form hasn't been good enough and they know that better than anybody, but it's not just the points you need you, the home fans want to see you win at home.

That way the supporters get behind you and cheer you on, rather than leaving in their droves like they were towards the end of the Middlesbrough game last week.

They may have missed Markus Babblel's late equaliser, but you can bet they wouldn't have had to leave if the performance they had paid to see had been forthcoming.

I saw the game before that against Villa. They never performed and I can't remember their goalkeeper having anything to do apart from catch crosses, which is disappointing.

So the home form has to be better, in terms of results and keeping up the revenue.

But I'm confident Blackburn will turn it round because, like Graeme Souness, I think the squad is stronger at the turn of 2004 than it was this time last year.

It's so easy to get injured nowadays, as Barry Ferguson proved up at Newcastle when he smashed his kneecap in what was really a nothing challenge. So you need players who can come off the bench and do the business.

And now players are beginning to bed in to the team, like Babbel, Todd, Emerton and Gallagher.

It was difficult for Rovers to have this at the early stages of the season because of the loss of players in the summer.

As well as the obvious departures of Duff and Dunn, Craig Short had a long term injury and Henning Berg also left so any team that loses its two main centre halves will struggle to get their act together.

But now Craig is back in with Andy Todd they are looking more solid, and with a stronger defence I think Rovers can look forward to more vital clean sheets.

In fact, with the sqaud they've got they should be looking to get in the top half of the table, which is possible considering the number of places you can move up in this Premiership if you get a couple of wins on the run.

But you must be careful you don't lose a couple because that can send you the other way. It's so congested with the top three being so far ahead that every point is so vital.

However, I can't see any other outcome than Blackburn Rovers still being a Premiership side in the summer of 2004.

So, to Rovers and everyone else out there -- Happy New Year.