GARRY Flitcroft knows better than anyone that Rovers need victories - and fast.

The already perilous state of their Premiership position was spelt out in no uncertain terms by the skipper this week as his team faces the prospect of dropping into the relegation zone this weekend.

And defeat to rock bottom Leicester City on Sunday would put the Midlands club level on points with their opponents.

"We know that we have to start picking up results," said Flitcroft.

"If you are down at the bottom at Christmas, you tend to stay down there all season and find it very hard to get out of it.

"It's not been the best of starts and the lads haven't been full of confidence but we have good players and we'll come good."

Manager Graeme Souness has echoed his captain's assertion that his team will put a nightmare October behind them.

As well as crashing out of two cups, their run of consecutive Premiership defeats stretched to four with last Saturday's 2-0 reverse at Southampton.

But Souness is frustrated that he has to wait for Sunday for things to change because he thought Rovers were well on the way to it against Liverpool.

He said: "We conceded a penalty and Lucas got a red card but we were looking good up to that point. I actually thought we'd turned the corner, so it shows what I know!"

And he can't under-estimate a Leicester City squad that contains six ex-Rovers players looking to put one over their former club.

Keith Gillespie's departure from Ewood was the most notorious and acrimonious, as he blasted Souness following his release from the club at the end of last season.

Craig Hignett and John Curits also left Rovers for City, joining Marcus Bent, Billy McKinlay and Callum Davidson in the ex-Rovers ranks.

"Leicester will be another stiff test but we're not going there for a 0-0, we are going there to win," said Souness.

"It's an important game but doesn't decide anything in the big picture."

Souness has also revealed that his and his players' mental resolve is being tested to the limit as their run of only one win since the opening day of the season drags on and on.

He added: "We are in the business of getting results and when you're not that pressure builds on the players and the manager. But it's part of my job to make sure it doesn't get to them.

"We're frustrated and disappointed but it's not having a lasting effect on them, they are in a positive frame of mind.

"I still regard myself very privileged to be in this job and in football but you will get criticism and abuse but you have to climb above it.

"I've been through a great deal in my professional and personal life so I know what I'm made of. I can take what comes my way.

"But I'm sure that in a few months we'll look back at this period and wonder what it was all about."