Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen has hit out at those being critical of manager Paul Ince.

The team has been hit with numerous injury problems and the skipper insists that any manager would struggle to gain positive results under the circumstances.

Nelsen said: "Injuries have been horrific to us. You never like to put in excuses because most clubs have these problems but we had six or seven out on Saturday.

"Take any Premier League team and take six or seven out and it is going to be pretty hard. We have had situations like that virtually all season where the manager has not been able to put his strongest 11 out. I feel sorry for him.

"Of course you feel for the manager. He is the one people point fingers at but any manager would struggle with the luck he has been dealt with and I mean any manager."