KEVIN Gallacher feels a repeat of the spirit of '95 could prove crucial to Blackburn Rovers' salvation - this time at the opposite end of the table.
Gallacher spent most of that Ewood championship season recovering from a broken leg but still managed to play his part with a crucial goal against Crystal Palace on the run-in.
Now he is faced with another nail-biting climax to a Rovers Premiership campaign and believes the "fantastic" spirit at the club could come to their rescue again.
And if the survival dream comes true, he is backing boss Brian Kidd to take Rovers back to better days.
There aren't too many of that title-winning squad in the present first team but, even to an outsider, the mood in the camp is similar to those pressurised weeks in April and May 1995.
This time, Rovers are seeking relief, rather than triumph - though it will feel like the latter if they do eventually escape a situation which looked beyond them five short months ago.
Back in the side after a long absence through injury, Gallacher acknowledged the part that team spirit can play.
"It's crucial, the lads know the situation we are in. We have gone through that many times," he said.
"Nobody at this club wants to go down. Everybody has come to Blackburn for success and success is not playing in the Nationwide League. "The lads have realised that. Maybe a bit late but we realised that we were slowly going down.
"And the determination and the team spirit now actually shows up in the club with the way we performed at Southampton. You can't just rely on spirit, you have to perform on the pitch as well.
"But the team spirit's never been away from this club.
"It's just been fantastic and especially now. We were in the mire, we are digging ourselves out and the spirit is fantastic."
Brian Kidd's arrival, with Rovers pinned to the foot of the table with nine points from 15 matches - nearly half a season - has undoubtedly had a positive effect in that department.
"It is his enthusiasm and attitude towards the game that is the most impressive," said Gallacher.
"He gets the best out of everybody and makes you believe you're a better player than you are.
"That's a good sign and there are one or two players who maybe need that little bit of a push and the manager has got that. It's just a shame with the situation he is in and the circumstances that he hasn't been able to portray his true management.
"But I think if we can survive it, there's a big stone there for him and I think we have got a good future to look forward to with Brian Kidd." Gallacher, incidentally, made his Rovers debut six years ago this month - against this afternoon's visitors Liverpool at Ewood and he scored in a 4-1 win!
Inevitably, the fans will have had an eye on other results this afternoon, notably Charlton's visit to Everton.
The Londoners' midweek slip let Rovers out of the bottom three. But Kidd refuses to take too much notice of what happens elsewhere.
With only 32 points to date, his team still have to claim several more points themselves before they can contemplate safety.
He is not feeling sorry for himself after inheriting a tough job but he does sympathise with his players.
"The Charlton result doesn't alter things," said Kidd.
"There will be twists and turns before the end of the season, there always are at the top and bottom.
"Liverpool were unfortunate on Wednesday, I thought they played quite well and had a couple of good chances early on.
"And, as with any side that Liverpool turn out, you know it will be a battle.
"We can only worry about what we do and our big problem has been losing players. When you lose personnel you lose your understanding.
"Everybody knew what the situation was when I came here and we knew the pressure was always going to be on. I am enjoying the challenge but it's the players I feel for. "Every week we are having to chop and change them and they don't get a run at things. Then people are written off for the season.
"I feel for the players more than anything. But the spirit among them is smashing."
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier knows that Liverpool can do Merseyside neighbours Everton a massive favour if they can win at Blackburn.
The likes of Jamie Carragher and Steve McManaman admit to being Everton fans as boys, as do Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen who are both out of the Rovers match.
Houllier added: "I don't think that will play too much of a part, but if it works in Everton's favour so be it.
"But I don't believe Everton will need that sort of help from us. They will save themselves, I have no doubt."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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