NOTTINGHAM Forest boss David Platt is backing Rovers to win automatic promotion despite his side's 2-1 victory at the City Ground on Saturday.

The former England captain believes Graeme Souness troops will pip Bolton to automatic promotion despite losing further ground on Wanderers at the weekend.

"I still believe that Blackburn will get that second automatic spot behind Fulham," said Platt.

"They've been in a rich vein of form since November and they've got the resources to cope with the inevitable injuries and suspensions which will come along during the run-in because the competition they've got for places is magnificent."

Forest became the first side to beat Rovers in the league since Gillingham won 2-1 at Ewood in November.

And he was delighted that both his side's goals came from set-pieces after he had expressed concern at their lack of success in that area prior to kick-off.

"It's ironic that happened because I said in midweek I didn't think we were scoring enough goals from set-pieces," said Platt.

"Set-pieces in football are a high source of goals for any team and you neglect working on them at your peril.

"But Bart has got that ability and it was a wonderful strike for the first.

"Then, for the second, it was all about the delivery.

"I felt in the first half that both teams had contained each other.

"But I said to the lads at half time that we needed to believe we could go out and win it. Sometimes you've got to go out and take a risk if you want to win a game.

"And I felt, if we did that, then we'd go out and give them problems.

"They have some very, very good players and they were unbeaten since November.

"So don't take anything away from the fact that this was a very, very good result for us."

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We've been punched on the nose so now it's all about how we react to that." Souness