A PLACE in Europe is now a long shot admitted Ray Harford after Blackburn Rovers' latest defeat at Southampton.

Rovers had raised their hopes by winning away to rivals Spurs three weeks ago, but they have stumbled badly since then and look a very long shot to finish high enough, after successive defeats by Everton and Saints.

"Those two defeats certainly haven't helped," said the Ewood boss.

"After the Spurs game, we had 48 points and were lying sixth or seventh.

"Our cause hasn't been helped at all.

"It's looking much harder to qualify now, but sixth place is still possible if that will be good enough."

Harford pinpointed a shortage of goals as a major factor in the poor away record which has so severely damaged Rovers' hopes this season.

He said: "Before the Southampton game we felt we had a chance of getting into Europe.

"But we just haven't scored enough goals, that has basically been our problem.

"Especially when you look and compare it with how many goals we have scored at home.

"Yet I felt it was a solid away performance and we did have chances against Southampton, a few good ones in the second half and we hit the post early in the game."

If Rovers had won on Saturday - and they could so easily have done - then they would have been poised to make a real push over the last five games.

Having allowed Southampton to give themselves a boost in the relegation battle, however, they know they now have to hit Newcastle's title hopes for six even to maintain an outside hope of qualifying.

FANS without tickets are asked to stay away from Ewood tonight.

Those who do have tickets should leave themselves plenty of time to get to the ground with traffic congestion likely.

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