By Russell Barder

Ince's side are second from bottom in the Premier League

Nigel Winterburn believes Blackburn will stand by under-pressure manager Paul Ince and has backed him to turn the club's flagging season around.

Chairman John Williams has targeted nine wins to save their season.

Winterburn, Rovers' defensive coach, told BBC Sport: "The players back Ince and it looks like the board will too.

"It doesn't really matter at the moment what other people think, it's just a case of putting the results right on the football pitch."

Ince has endured a tough start to his first season in the top flight, picking up just three wins from 16 Premier League games and there is mounting speculation over his future at Ewood Park.

Rovers are second from bottom in the Premier League after a run of five straight defeats and travel to Wigan on Saturday.

Paul and his staff are working hard to put things right and we have to do that very quickly Nigel Winterburn

Ince was encouraged by his side's improved display in their 3-1 home loss to Liverpool on Saturday and has asked for patience as he looks to emulate the lower league-success he achieved with Macclesfield and MK Dons.

Former Arsenal defender Winterburn agrees things are improving.

"Obviously the players are all very disappointed with the way things have gone," he said.

"But considering all that, the way they're applying themselves in training to try and put things right, is a credit to them.

"Some of the performances haven't been as bad as the scoreline suggests, you even saw that at the weekend. It was a competitive game against Liverpool and a 3-1 scoreline didn't do us justice.

"Paul has had to adapt very quickly, especially over the last couple of weeks but he proved himself at Macclesfield and went on to do the same at Milton Keynes Dons.

"He will be learning all the time what it's like to manage in the Premier League and I'm sure you'll see a massive improvement in the team over the next few weeks that will lift them away from the relegation zone, I have no doubt about that.

"Paul and his staff are working hard to put things right and we have to do that very quickly."

Blackburn have struggled defensively this season, leaking 31 league goals already.

It is a problem Winterburn admits they need to work on, but he also highlighted the club's growing injury problems as a reason for the position they find themselves in.

Williams is keen for Blackburn to starting picking up wins

"David Dunn has been out for almost all of the season, Steven Reid is now out until next season, they brought Vince Grella in and he's only played a couple of games.

"These are players that would have been playing in the team and if they weren't in the team they would have been a big boost to the squad.

"But what really matters is what goes out on the pitch.

"We're conceding too many goals through individual errors at key stages and have been working on trying to cut that out.

"We want to be positive and play the right style of football that Paul wants to bring to the football club."

Ince knows that only a return to winning ways will ease the pressure on him after Williams stressed the importance of picking up at least nine more wins to avoid relegation.

606: DEBATE We need some positive results very quickly, whoever is in charge. onlyonejackwalker

"The longer we go without a win the more difficult it becomes for us to get those wins we need," Williams told the Lancashire Evening Post.

"The players and the manager believe our fortunes will change once we get that first win, but we all know we need that win quickly.

"At the moment, nine wins from 22 looks more than possible. But if we go a few more games still needing nine wins it looks more and more difficult doesn't it?"

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