Ince: Under pressure

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Ryan Nelsen has called for the Blackburn boo-boys to lay off under-fire boss Paul Ince.

Rovers have gone seven Premier League games without a win, and slipped into the relegation zone on the back of a 2-1 reverse at home to Sunderland last weekend.

The alarming slump has seen certain sections of the Ewood Park faithful turn on their manager, with the former England international leaving the field after the Black Cats defeat with jeers ringing in his ears.

However, club captain Nelsen believes Ince has been hampered by a debilitating injury list and expects the former Macclesfield and MK Dons coach to come good in time.

Excuses

"We've had situations virtually all season where the manager hasn't been able to put out his strongest XI. I feel sorry for him," said the New Zealand international.

"He's the one people point fingers at but any manager would struggle with the luck he's been dealt - and I mean any manager.

"He never really mentions it to us and never uses excuses. But the reality is that any manager in the position he's in would be reminding the media about the situation.

"He takes everything on the chin. But injuries have been horrific to us.

"And we players hold the majority of responsibility, if not all of it, for what happens on the field."