TIM Sherwood today blasted out a warning to anyone who thinks Blackburn Rovers are a spent force - "We are no one-season wonders."

The Ewood skipper, who was in outstanding form as Rovers battled - unsuccessfully in the end - for a place in Europe, has no doubts that they will bounce back from this season's disappointments.

Reflecting on a campaign that saw them fail to mount a major title defence, Sherwood said: "Unfortunately we got going too late and we suffered from the form we showed away from home earlier in the season.

"We have also had a lot of players injured, though not much has been said about that.

"When we get all our players fit, I am sure we can be challenging again.

"We are not a one-season wonder team and it is quite clear that we can compete with the best."

Rovers' poor start to the season counted them out of the title reckoning and their awful away results held them back in the first half of the campaign.

But there were a number of outstanding home performances and the way the team finished the programme gave fans a lot of encouragement. It clearly took time for things to settle down after the title win and a change at the top last summer.

"I think we have shown championship form at home and championship form in the last couple of months of the season," he said.

"We had a new manager and he obviously has different ways of doing things than Kenny. But he is going to do well.

"As anyone could see, we outplayed Chelsea on Saturday. We outpassed them and, in the last few weeks, we have been outpassing most of the teams we have played.

"Against Arsenal, we were in a different class to them and they have qualified for Europe."

There is no easy explanation for the away form which cost Rovers dearly. Sherwood said: "You can't really put your finger on it.

"As champions we went about it trying to play football and we thought we were unlucky early on.

"We were playing well but not getting results. That's just the way it went.

"Then you get into habits. You get into losing habits and that's what we did away from home.

"It's like winning. You win a few games and you start expecting to win every week. That's what we have done later in the season. "Unfortunately we started too late."

Rovers Reserves drew 0-0 in their final Pontin's League game of the season away to West Bromwich Albion last night.

It was a game they should have won comfortably,playing well and creating a lot of chances but contriving to waste them.

In the last minute, they were denied a penalty when Matty Holmes appeared to be fouled but should have had the game won with their earlier efforts.

Team: Given, Gill, Marker, Broomes, Croft, Johnson, Flitcroft, Holmes, Duff, Beattie, Thomas.

The Ewood Blues, an independent supporters' organisation, are holding their agm at Ewood WMC tonight (7-30pm).

Among the things they organise is travel to away games. Official Paul Loftus, who edits one of the fanzines "Loadsamoney", said anyone interested in joining was welcome to attend.

A report that Rovers were chasing Newcastle's Paul Kitson and Robbie Elliott was laughed off at Ewood today.

Hopes of Rovers having three players in England's Euro 96 squad were maintained with the selection of Tim Flowers, Alan Shearer and Jason Wilcox for next week's friendly against Hungary.

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