CARETAKER boss Tony Parkes reflected on Blackburn Rovers' best display of the season and said: "That's as good as it gets."

Last night's 3-1 win at Ewood Park lifted his side to 11th in the First Division, just four points away from the play-off positions.

Parkes has now captured 15 points from the 21 available in his seven games in charge following the dismissal of Brian Kidd.

It was the manner of the victory, though, that gave him the most pleasure. He said: "They battled and scrapped their way up until this performance but that win was the icing on the cake.

"They showed what a good team they are and what quality players they are. Everybody has been saying that since the start of the season but this was the game that they showed it.

"It was the best of the season, without doubt. There were some really top class performances out there. That was the seventh game in 20 days for most of them, so it says a lot about their fitness.

"Everybody is happy at the moment. We have been in the doldrums for a while but we can see a little bit of a spark now.

"And I would have settled for half of that, and to have won the game, in the situation that we are in. But to play like that was magnificent, really.

"And it was against a good footballing team. You might not have thought they were very good but that was because Blackburn played very well - you can't have it both ways." Parkes had special praise for his defensive unit, who kept a free-scoring Bolton at bay except for one lapse of concentration.

And he was also pleased for the trio of former Bolton players, having opted to start with Nathan Blake instead of Egil Ostenstad because of the added incentive of playing against his old club.

He added: "Players enjoy playing against their old clubs. Jason McAteer and Per Frandsen were excellent but I shouldn't pick out individuals because there were top performances from everybody, really.

"People thought Per didn't put his foot in and didn't do his tackling, but he must have won as many balls as anybody on the pitch.

"Nathan was excited because the crowd had been winding him up, so that's how you can pay them back.

"Defenders do not usually get a mention in a 3-1 win, but they limited Bolton to so few chances in the game."

Parkes insists that he is not tempted to apply for the permanent position of manager.

But he admits that this might not be his last league game in charge.

"I don't feel that it's my last league game. The more points I pick up, the harder it is going to be to bring a new man in at this moment in time.

"They will probably be waiting until I lose a game. That would be the sensible way to do it. I do not think they will want the new manager to follow an unbeaten run.

"It might be my last FA Cup match in charge on Saturday, but I don't know about the last league game!"

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