WES Brown says spirits are still high among the Blackburn Rovers players despite being in the bottom three at Christmas.

Rovers slipped to a third 3-2 defeat in the space of a week against Reading on Saturday to sit 22nd in the Championship table, two points from safety.

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Brown made his first team debut against the Royals, scoring his side’s second equaliser in what was his first league outing since in almost 11 months.

That was the fourth equalising goal Rovers have scored in their last three games, and 37-year-old Brown says that demonstrates the fight this side have.

“The spirit is there, as we’ve shown, but it would be nice to start taking the lead,” the central defender said.

“We are in the relegation zone, that’s how it is, but the spirit is good.

“I don’t think we’re playing bad, we have our moments, and we need to start putting them away and then shutting up at the back a little bit.

“At the moment our heads are still high, if we weren’t playing well and losing I would give a completely different interview.

“That’s the general feeling throughout the club, there are no heads down, we know we’ve got good players here and we will keep going.”

Brown had played two Checkatrade Trophy games for Rovers, as well as turning out for their under-23s side, before making his debut against the Royals.

His header brought Rovers level with 18 minutes to play, but he was caught out for the Reading winner after Gareth McCleary got clear of him down the wing, before squaring for George Evans to finish.

The former England defender held his hands up to his role in the winner, however, adding: “It was a quick throw-in, he put it through my legs and then he was away.

“I could have done better obviously, but as a team, with that long to go, we needed to react that bit quicker.”

Brown was given the nod to start alongside Darragh Lenihan in central defence, with Charlie Mulgrew, Tommie Hoban and Elliott Ward all out injured, while Gordon Greer was suspended.

Corry Evans missed the Reading defeat through injury, while Jason Lowe will miss the next two games through suspension.

But Brown admits the whole squad are ready to play when called upon.

He said: “Hopefully they can get back as soon as possible, I don’t think it’s anything serious, obviously Lowey will be a miss.

“But the people who will come in are ready and wanting to play and that’s the positive at the minute,.

“There’s not a player who doesn’t want to be out there on the pitch. You see that everyday in training.

“So if we can keep our spirit and keep cracking on and I’m sure the results will come, and a little bit of luck here and there will help.”