BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today called on his players to prove that Saturday's woeful performance against Aston Villa was strictly a one-off.

Souness described Rovers' 2-0 defeat as the worst display during his three and a half years at the club.

And he's told his squad that he now wants Middlesbrough to feel the full force of the backlash as he looks to get Rovers' season back on track.

"We've got players who've been here a few years and they know what I expect from them," said Souness.

"They've also got their own standards, too, and we've got to be angry and upset with ourselves after the way we let ourselves down on Saturday. That's the only response you can have.

"That was the first time in three and a half years that I didn't get everything from my players on mass.

"You're never going to get the whole eleven bang, bang at it but, generally speaking, you're going to get most of them.

"I think I've had that by and large for the last three and a half years but on Saturday the majority of the team weren't at it and that's why we got such a miserable performance.

"Perhaps they felt as though they'd turned the corner. We played some really good football at Arsenal, it developed into a football match, and we were knocking it around.

"Maybe they felt they could go straight into a similar type of game against Aston Villa.

"But no two games are the same."

Rovers have now lost more games than anyone else in the Premiership and Saturday's defeat against Villa was their 10th in 14 games in all competitions.

That means today's clash with Boro has become even more important than ever and Souness believes it's time his players showed their true colours.

"This is a time for people to stand up and be counted," said Souness.

"What is there in life if you feel sorry for yourself? If you're a professional football player then there's nothing for you if your chin drops and your shoulders go round all of a sudden.

"I think I've got players who'll stand up and be counted when it really, really matters."

Souness has been pleased with the way his players have responded in training this week and he's convinced that the Villa performance WAS a one-off.

"It was a one-off. I'm convinced it was a one-off. In three and a half years, it's never happened before," said the Rovers boss.

"I couldn't put my house on it not happening again but I think the fact it's only happened once in three and a half years would suggest it's not going to repeat itself.

"The players were all very very positive in our first day back in training after Saturday.

"In fact, all my chat from the sidelines was about them watching their tackling because they were quite enthusiastic."

Souness has been highly critical of some of Rovers' defending this season and he has stressed the need to improve in that area going into the New Year.

But the Rovers boss insists that's the responsibility of the whole team, including the strikers, and not just the back four.

"In terms of our overall performance, it's important that everyone in the team does their bit when you don't have the ball," said Souness.

"As a striker, you have to take a bit of responsibility in that department because if a defender is being put under pressure when he's in possession of the ball then the passes to his forwards are not going to be of the same quality when he's allowed to do it in his own time."