IF the current Blackburn Rovers crop need any advice on how to pull off a shock at Anfield tomorrow then they need not look far.

John Filan, who is now the club’s U21s assistant head coach, was in the Rovers goal the last time they faced Liverpool in the FA Cup 15 years ago.

That day the boys from Ewood Park ran out winners 1-0 thanks to Nathan Blake’s late strike.

And Filan, who used to stay up late to watch the FA Cup when he was growing up Down Under, admits it is a result that will live with him forever.

“At the time the club was a bit up and down so we needed a good result and we got one so it was some achievement,” said the former Australia goalkeeper, who played just one more game in the 2000-01 season before being ruled out by a shoulder injury.

“From my memory the boys just worked really hard and Blakey scored our winner.

“It was a big game, as any game at Liverpool is, and I can remember coming back after we won and there being such a great, positive feeling. That’s the reason you play this game, to have those feelings.

“It was certainly one of the good ones. You have a few during your career and when you finish playing you can look back on and think what a benefit they have been to your life.

“Cup runs are brilliant because everyone remembers them, especially the FA Cup.

“When I was a kid back home we used to stay up to watch the FA Cup because it was such a big thing. It’s still a worldwide competition.

“Hopefully the boys will go there and get a good result.”

Tomorrow, Rovers, like they were in January 2000, will be a Championship club trying to spring a surprise.

But, having already knocked out two of Liverpool’s Premier League rivals in Swansea City and Stoke City on their way to the quarter-finals, Filan is hopeful they can.

“Liverpool are on a decent run but when it comes to cup games it doesn’t really matter, you’ve just got to turn up on the day,” he said.

“Obviously people will look at the leagues and there is no doubt that Liverpool will be favourites but the underdogs have always got a chance.

“I think our first team showed against Stoke what they can do when they fire and from what I’ve seen the lads are good, hardworking lads, and with that you’ve got every chance.”

Filan will certainly be involved in a cup final before the end of the season after Eric Kinder’s U21s reached the showpiece of the U21s Premier League Cup with a superb 2-1 semi-final victory over Reading last Thursday.

“Eric, myself and the rest of the staff were made-up for the boys because we’ve all put a lot of effort in,” said Filan, who helped Rovers win promotion back to the Premier League in 2001.

“We are a very young U21s now, we’ve got boys coming up who have done great for us, 16-17-years-old, and that’s great for the future of the club.”

Rovers U21s lost a league match at Reading 2-1 last night.