Blackburn defender Elliott Ward has challenged the squad to claim more clean sheets before the end of the season if they are to avoid relegation from the Championship.

The 32-year-old was restored to the starting lineup for the first time since the opening day of the season in Friday’s 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Tony Mowbray shuffled his pack for the trip to the City ground as he reshaped his backline with Ward playing alongside youngster Ryan Nyambe and goal-scorer Tommie Hoban.

However, despite picking up a valuable three points Rovers, who are priced at 1.67 to be relegated, remain 22nd in the Championship and in real danger of dropping down to League One.

The Lancashire outfit are only two points from safety with four games still left to play and Ward has stressed the importance of claiming more shut-outs if they are to retain their status in the second-tier.

Ward told Blackburn’s official website: “The clean sheet is massive, we haven’t had enough of them this season.

“We are going into big games where we need them and I feel that if we have that then we are capable of winning the games.

“Forest was a good three points for us and a starting point in the five games that we need to do well in.”

The former Coventry man was also keen to praise the club’s fans for getting behind the team at a crucial point in the campaign.

He added: “The fans were brilliant. “We are going to need them in the next four games.

“They were great today and to get the goal in front of them was probably the perfect ending.”