ROBBIE Savage has revealed that Mark Hughes' decision to kick a few backsides - including his own - has led to Blackburn Rovers' winning run.

Rovers are enjoying their best sequence of results this season having won their last five matches, the last of which was Saturday's impressive 4-2 victory over Reading.

The start of that run came against Birmingham in the Carling Cup, when Rovers manager Hughes shook up his side and axed several established names following back-to-back defeats to Larissa and Portsmouth.

Benni McCarthy, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Savage were all dropped, and only in the last couple of games have the trio forced their way back into the starting line-up.

Although unhappy at being left out for three games, Savage respects that, in Blackburn's best interests, Hughes must make those tough calls.

"The gaffer has had to make some big decisions," said the Welsh midfielder.

"He left Benni out of the team for four games, I got left out for three, and Morten's been left out as well.

"I never feel I deserve to be left out. But for the Birmingham game, the gaffer gave a chance to those lads that had not been playing a game.

"Aaron Mokoena played fantastic against them and he kept the same team.

"You can't argue with that, but it just makes you even more hungry to get back in the team and play well, and that's exactly what I've done.

"You can see how Benni's reacted. I think the sign of every good professional is how they react.

"You can sulk or you can get your head down and work harder, because in this day and age, with the squad we've got, the gaffer can make those decisions."

Enjoying their best start to a league campaign in a decade, Rovers head into Sunday's clash at Tottenham Hotspur on a real high.

The challenge is now on to try and break the monopoly of the Premier League's big four', although Savage insists he and his team-mates are keeping their feet firmly on the ground.

The 33-year-old added: "It's been an amazing start. We always knew we were capable of it.

"It would be nice for any club to break into that top four. If it was to be us, that would be great.

"The football we play and with the manager, coaches and the type of players that we've got here, we have every chance.

"We are not going to get carried away. We've probably only let ourselves down twice this season, in the UEFA Cup and at home to Portsmouth.

"Other than that, we've played some exceptional stuff."