BRIAN Kidd was calm, collected but ruthlessly clinical in his post-match verdict which came from the heart - no belief, no courage and spiritless was his description of his "frightened" players.

Kidd has been in charge for only five months, but the sickness has been setting in at Ewood Park much longer than that and it has finally caught up with the club.

As he faced up to the prospect of being formally committed to Division One football by his old club Manchester United on Wednesday night, he gave a chilling and brutally honest assessment of Rovers' situation.

"Yes, I am depressed. That is what a terrific club has been reduced to," he said about the latest shambles.

"They looked frightened to death, they just didn't want it enough.

"It was on a plate for them last week and this week against Charlton and Forest and I think we have turned in our worst two performances.

"They haven't had the courage for it. "I think the inmates (players) have been running things for far too long and it doesn't hurt them enough.

"Brave men will have bad games and I can stand by that. But there was no courage.

"My only concern is Rovers. I look at myself in the four or five months I have been here but I think there are plenty of others who can't."

Rovers' team plans were wrecked again by more injuries counting out Jason McAteer and Ashley Ward.

But Kidd said: "I know that hasn't helped but at least, in the past, they have always gone down having a go.

"This time they haven't had a go.

"When you look at the players we have got, the quality isn't there. I could have said it weeks ago but I didn't because at least they were fighting.

"They made up for the ability because they were fighting. You can't defend that.

"I think we got in some decent areas, especially down the right-hand side.

"But the quality wasn't here and you have to question the courage today, without doubt."

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