TONY Parkes today admitted Blackburn Rovers must improve on their away form if they want to get promotion via the play-offs.

This afternoon's game at Bolton marks the beginning of a crucial run of six matches in 24 days.

And with tough assignments at fellow play-off rivals Birmingham City and Stockport County coming up in that spell, Parkes knows his side cannot afford to falter on their travels.

Rovers' home record has been exceptional under Parkes, reaping 17 points from his seven League games to date so far.

But away from Ewood, they have only taken eight points from six games so far.

And that's a record they will have to improve on if they want to claim the fourth and final play-off place.

"We've played very well at home but not too well away so there's a lot of room for improvement on our travels," said Parkes.

"Most teams tend to find that but I don't know what the reason is.

"It's something we've got to put right, though.

"This is a Division where everybody can beat everybody else and I think that's happened as the season has gone on.

"So it's going to go right until the end of the season, I'm sure.

"The situation will change from game to game.

"One minute, you're battling for a top six place. The next, you lose a game and suddenly find yourself halfway down the table.

"But the team that's going to get that sixth spot is going to be the most consistent one and we just hope that's us."

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson became the latest big-name to tip Rovers to reach their goal after his side were given a scare in Monday night's thrilling FA Cup tie.

But Parkes insists they haven't got a divine right to go back up at the first attempt, despite their achievements on and off the pitch under Jack Walker.

"It's a wonderful thing what has happened to Blackburn over the last few years.

"We've had a new training ground built, they've rebuilt the stadium and five years ago we had a championship winning side.

"But times move on and we don't win games on that.

"You win games with the team we have now performing and getting points to get us back in the Premiership.

"We've no divine right to get back in the Premiership. We've got to earn that right.

"It's the same as when you are in the Premier League and people say you are too good to go down. "If you don't get the points in the Premiership you go down. If you get the points in the First Division you go up.

"We may have games in hand but they only look good when you look at the League table.

"They still have to be won and that's easier said than done.

"Points in the bag are the best thing to have looking at this league table."

Meanwhile, Parkes is refusing to put a timescale on the first team return of midfield duo Garry Flitcroft and Billy McKinlay.

Both stepped up their comebacks in the reserves in midweek but Parkes is in no hurry to rush them back before they are ready.

"Garry Flitcroft has only played about 180 minutes in 12 months so, from that point of view, he's still quite a long way away," said Parkes.

"And Billy McKinlay is possibly about the same amount of time away.

"But I can't put a time on that.

"All I can do is just let them play football and train so they can get back to what they were before they left us."

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