RUDY Gestede hopes that Blackburn Rovers’ FA Cup draw at Liverpool will lead to an increase in crowds at Ewood Park – starting against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow.

Around 6,000 fans cheered Rovers to a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Sunday, to set up a quarter final replay at Ewood on the week commencing April 6.

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Rovers’ home fixture against Millwall - initially scheduled for Easter Monday, April 6 at 3pm – will be rearranged as a consequence.

Gestede was full of praise for the support the Rovers team received at Anfield and hopes the feelgood factor generated by the result will help to grow crowds at Ewood.

Rovers’ average attendance this season is 15,264 – the eighth lowest in the Championship.

Although it is higher than the average gate in each of the last two campaigns, Rovers are the only club in the second tier whose average is less than 50 per cent of their stadium capacity.

Neil Lennon’s Bolton visit Ewood for a league match tomorrow night.

“It’s important to have fans behind you, they were brilliant for us on Sunday and we need them every game, even at home,” said Gestede “Sometimes the stadium has been a bit empty this season so hopefully they are going to come back and be with us.”

Only 8,635 people were at Ewood two years ago for a quarter final replay against Millwall, which Rovers lost 1-0.

But the attendance is expected to be much different this time.

Ticket details are yet to be announced but the Reds are likely to bring a huge travelling support and interest will be much higher among Rovers fans for this game too.

“Hopefully at home against Liverpool there will be big numbers,” Gestede said. “We need them against a big team.”

With the replay so far away, Gestede has stressed the importance of focusing on the Championship until then.

The home match with Bolton is the first of five games in the Championship before they face Liverpool again.

“Now we are going to focus on Bolton,” he said.

“We play Liverpool in one month’s time so we have to focus on the league and leave the cup for a while.

“The league is different, it’s a different way to play. Every team works hard in the Championship.

“There is more quality from the Premier League teams and maybe less pressure.

“But we should bring the confidence from Sunday and carry on for the next 11 games in the league.”