FORMER Ewood favourite Kevin Gallacher today told Ian St John to keep his opinions to himself after the fading TV pundit launched a fresh broadside at Barry Ferguson and Blackburn Rovers.

The Saint caused consternation in Blackburn two months ago when he accused Ferguson of making a 'monumental error' in quitting Rangers for Rovers.

Now the former Liverpool star has risked the wrath of Blackburn fans once again by saying that the Scotland skipper looks like a 'little boy lost' in the Premiership, as well as calling into question Graeme Souness's abilities as a manager, in his latest column for the Sunday Post.

"These are the comments of a guy who's not been watching all the games," said Gallacher.

"I've watched every single Blackburn game this season and there's probably only been two matches where they haven't played well.

"In the rest, it's individual errors which have cost them dearly.

"People can be fickle, they'll look at results, and if you're getting beat then they automatically assume you're not playing well.

"But in football terms, Blackburn have been doing alright.

"Barry just needs time to settle in. He came here carrying a massive burden having come from Scotland for big money but it does take time to adapt.

"I've made the move from Scotland myself and I know how hard it is.

"Up in Scotland he was used to winning every week with Rangers because he was playing for one of the best two teams in the league.

"But it's a lot different down here where there's a lot more world class players.

"Having said that, I thought he was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch against Liverpool in the Carling Cup recently, and that was against 10 men.

"I know he can still give a bit more yet but given time, that will come through."

St John had raked over the old coals by claiming: "Barry has failed to make the expected impact on the Premiership.

"That may yet come. But Barry is not accustomed to being on the losing side week in, week out and he's unlikely to be inspired to higher heights by the sub-20,000 crowds that turn up at Ewood Park these days.

"With Rangers he was the skipper who led by example and inspired those around him to give of their best.

"Right now, however, Barry is looking like a little boy lost."

St John was equally scathing in his criticism of Souness as he added: "The way things have been going at Ewood Park, you have to wonder if Graeme Souness can get them out of this rut.

"He seems to have spent as much time having spats with officials and the opposing dug-out in recent weeks as he has trying to cajole a performance out of his players.

"He has suggested Lady Luck has turned her back on his side.

"Sorry, that may be the case for two or three games when the ball hasn't bounced for you but when the win bonuses have stayed in the bank account for over a month, the problems have to be deeper than that.

"It seems to me that Souness's squad does not have the depth to handle the injuries and suspensions that have come their way recently.

"The players he bought in the summer have proved not as influential as the two he sold, Damien Duff and David Dunn."

However, Gallacher believes it's only a matter of time before Souness brings the good times back to Ewood.

"Graeme has a great track record at Blackburn and he's still the best man for the job as far as I'm concerned," said Gallacher. "Sometimes clubs make changes and it does improve things but it can make the situation worse and we've seen that happen here before."