TIM Sherwood reckons Blackburn Rovers need to prove that last Sunday's rout at Old Trafford was a one-off.

The Rovers skipper, one of several players who have been under treatment for injury before tomorrow's Ewood clash with Bolton Wanderers, said: "It's a derby game and will be a bit different than playing against someone like Coventry.

"But the important thing for us is that we want to bounce back from last Sunday.

"We don't want people to start saying the bubble has burst. We've lost a game of football, that's not a disasater.

"On the other hand, it might be a blessing in disguise. It gets some people's heads out of the clouds."

Sherwood, who picked up a knock along with Jeff Kenna and Chris Sutton, hopes to be fit and he feels people should view the club's position long term, not just on one bad result.

"You can still look at the League table and see how far we have come since last season," he said.

"League tables don't lie, but individual games can. Otherwise you wouldn't have any cup competitions.

"Even when we won the League we didn't beat Manchester United, so that might be a good omen, you never know. "But we do know we have to make sure we pick up points from the other teams and then take what we can from those at the top.

"We have already beaten Chelsea and drawn with Liverpool and Newcastle."

As well as checking the short-term injuries, Rovers boss Roy Hodgson also has to judge whether Colin Hendry is fit enough to return yet.

Hendry has been out since the beginning of November when he twisted a knee at Barnsley but has been making steady progress.

If the manager is happy that he is ready, he could add him to a squad that won't show much change from last week.

Kevin Gallacher will probably be restored to attack: Flowers, Kenna, Henchoz, Pedersen, Croft, Ripley, Sherwood, McKinlay, Flitcroft, Wilcox, Sutton, Gallacher, Bohinen, Duff, Broomes, Fettis.

Bolton boss Colin Todd said: "We couldn't go into a derby in better heart or spirit" and is set to name an unchanged side with Gerry Taggart, now free from suspension, probably on the bench.

Their squad is: Branagan, Bergsson, Todd, Fish, Whitlow, Pollock, Frandsen, Thompson, Sellars, Blake, Holdsworth.

Contrary to a report that Rovers have "joined the chase" for Oldham left back Carl Serrant, they have - as we reported a few weeks ago - been aware of the England under-21 player for some time.

So too has every other club.

Representatives from 27 different clubs watched Oldham against Carlisle the other night, including 13 from the Premiership!

They were Arsenal, Rovers, Chelsea, Coventry, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Spurs. Rangers and Celtic were also there.

Serrant's contract expires at the end of the season and he is expected to move before then. It is no secret that Rovers are looking to strengthen at left back but they have not made any moves at this stage.

The ticket office will be open until 9pm tonight for the sale of seats to Rovers fans only and again from 9am-12 noon tomorrow. The ticket sales hotline will also be available for home supporters at the same times on 10254-671666.

Under no circumstances will any tickets be sold after 12 noon tomorrow.

Rovers A team game against Burnley at Brockhall tomorrow has been postponed.

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