Championship: Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer welcomes rest before Derby game

Gary Bowyer is hopeful an extra 24 hours of rest will work in Blackburn's favour against Derby at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

The Rams travel to east Lancashire after recording a 1-1 draw with local rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Rovers' spirits were boosted by a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Wigan on the previous day.

Bowyer, who played for Forest and coached at Derby, knows how much an all east-Midlands affair can take out of a player and believes that could play into his side's hands.

"It definitely makes a difference that you get 24 hours more rest after the two games that the teams played," he said.

"You watched the Forest game on the Sunday and it was a typical east Midlands derby. It was fierce, had high energy and emotionally as well they are tough games. To have 24 hours of extra rest could prove vital for us.

"The fact we've had 24 hours of extra rest will only come to our advantage if we go out and perform. That's the main thing - we've got to go out and perform and build on Saturday's performance."

Derby have only been beaten once in the league this season and have not been affected by the heartbreak of their last-gasp play-off final defeat to QPR at Wembley last May.

Bowyer, who was part of the Rams' youth set-up before joining the coaching staff at Blackburn, believes Steve McClaren's signings have helped the club kick on to another level too.

"The manager got backed in the summer financially," he added.

"He's gone out and spent it wisely. Unfortunately for them the boy (George) Thorne, who looked like a good player, got injured but he's invested in other areas as well.

"They've got fabulous support, they get good attendances in the late 20,000s, so we're fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead for us."