FIT-AGAIN Blackburn Rovers forward Josh King has called on his team-mates to lift their heads and pay back their ‘amazing’ supporters with victory at home to high-flying Middlesbrough tomorrow (3pm).

Rovers will go into their final game of 2014 on the back of a 2-1 derby defeat to Bolton Wanderers yesterday that stretched their winless away run to five matches.

King had put Gary Bowyer’s side in front at the Macron Stadium with his first goal of the season.

But wasteful finishing and poor defending allowed Bolton to turn the games on its head with two goals in the space of three second-half minutes.

King said: “I don’t think we deserved to leave with no points.

“We had a lot of chances but didn’t put them away. They did and that’s football.

“I thought we were cruising walking in at half-time and while I did not think it would be easy, had we scored the first goal in the second half it would have been a different game.

“But we didn’t do that and now we’ve got to go forward.

“We’ve got a game on Sunday, at home to Middlesbrough, it’s going to be very tough but we’ve just got to keep our heads up high.

“It’s important that we do that, not just for ourselves but also for the fans.

“We had amazing support today, with 4,500 travelling. We’ve got to thank them and we’re just as disappointed as they are that we’re leaving with no points.

“But Sunday is another game and that’s what’s good about football, there’s always another chance to bounce back and that’s what we’ll try and do on Sunday.”

King was making his first start for Rovers since October 4 after recovering from a back injury he sustained playing for Norway on October 13.

His 41st-minute goal – a storming run from just inside Bolton’s half and a cool finish – was praised by Bowyer.

And now King, who was preferred to top-scorer Rudy Gestede, hopes he has done enough to keep his place in the Rovers manager’s side.

“I waited to see if the goalkeeper went down but he stood up so that’s why I went around him,” said the 22-year-old, who made his first-team return in last Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Charlton Athletic.

“The run was nearly from the halfway line so I had loads of time to think about what I was going to do.

“It’s good to come back after 10 weeks out with a goal but I’m just sad and disappointed that the team lost. I don’t really care about scoring when the team doesn’t get the three points.”

“I spoke to the gaffer before the game and he asked me if I was ready.

“I played 45 minutes for the reserves and scored and then I came on for 20 minutes on Saturday and should have scored as well.

“I started today and scored so I’ve just got to keep going. It’s a new game on Sunday and I’ve got to look forward to that.”