AT 3.45pm on Saturday it was shaping up to be the perfect afternoon for Blackburn Rovers.

Rovers were through to the FA Cup fifth round and Watford, the team they must chase down if they are to break back into the play-offs, were two goals down at home to Blackpool.

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But fast forward one hour and the picture had changed dramatically.

Sixth-placed Watford’s stunning second-half comeback, in which they scored seven times in the space of 34 minutes, meant they extended their lead over 10th-placed Rovers to 11 points.

It has been a swift reversal of fortunes.

It was just eight weeks ago that Rovers, fresh from extending their unbeaten run to nine matches, were one place and two points better off than the Hornets in sixth, Gary Bowyer admits his side, who play their game in hand at Derby County tonight, are perturbed by the gap that has grown between the teams since then.

But he is adamant they still have time to turn it around.

“It’s not a gap we would like to be as big as it is,” said Rovers boss Bowyer.

“We want to get it closer than that, that’s for sure, but the positive is there are plenty of games to get that run going.

“We’re capable of it, we’ve got the ability in the squad, now it’s important to get through the window and then we can kick on.”

So far Bowyer has not lost any of his big hitters despite Crystal Palace’s attempts to sign top-scorer Rudy Gestede.

Gestede marked his first appearance since Palace had a £3.5m bid for his services rejected by netting the decisive strike in Saturday’s rousing FA Cup success over Swansea City.

The 13-goal striker was part of the Rovers squad that headed to the East Midlands yesterday to prepare for tonight’s crucial clash with Derby.

Bowyer is under no illusions of how difficult a task it will be against a Rams side who will move level on points with leaders Bournemouth with victory.

But he insists Rovers, who have failed to win any of their previous four league games, have been heartened by the way they kick-started a day of genuine cup shocks.

“We thought we were going to get a lot of coverage but then we got outdone by Bradford City and Middlesbrough,” joked Bowyer.

“But, in all seriousness, the place is buzzing because of the win.

“I said before the game if we were to win it would be shock as Swansea are a Premier League side and that’s exactly what it was.”

Derby, who lost their last Championship outing to bitter rivals Nottingham Forest, ran out 3-2 winners in September’s reverse encounter at Ewood Park.

And Bowyer said: “For 45 minutes they were the best side that has visited us this season.

“But when you look back at the game you see how strong we finished.

“I thought there was controversy over their third goal because there was a foul on Craig Conway.

“But our lads responded ever so well, we got it back to 3-2 and their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save and we had another effort cleared off the line.

“We really pushed them hard and we’re going to have to go and do the same on Tuesday.”