TONY’S TROOPS IN LAST CHANCE

BLACKBURN boss Tony Mowbray has admitted that Rovers are likely to “fall short” in their unlikely bid for the play-offs. Promoted from League One last season, Rovers were widely tipped to struggle but have confounded the doubters with a push for the top six. Four wins from four in January saw Mowbray’s men rise to eighth spot, only for three successive defeats to undo all their hard work. Today’s visitors Middlesbrough started the weekend in sixth, eight points above Blackburn, and it would seem a case of win-or-bust if Rovers are to reignite their fading challenge. Mowbray, though, played down talk of a promotion six-pointer. “Sunday is a big, big game for us, as all games are,” said the 55-year-old, a Boro fan who made 424 appearances for his hometown club before managing them in the Championship. “Without saying that we need to target home games, I think we need to find performances and victories. “We want to be picking up points and looking at the top end of the table. We will win games, there’s still plenty left, and we’ll see where the points tally takes us. “There’s still a long way to go but it looks like we’re going to fall short of what we would like to achieve.” Mowbray, who will be without first-choice defender Darragh Lenihan (knee), also dismissed suggestions that Boro will be weakened by their injury crisis. “They still have some very good players,” he added. “Dael Fry is one of them, (Ryan) Shotton is another. George Friend is a very experienced defender. They’ll be tough to beat.”