BLACKBURN Rovers defender Stephen Warnock insists he and his team-mates will not give up on their dream of Europe until it is mathematically impossible'.

Rovers lost vital ground in the battle to claim an automatic Uefa Cup spot when they drew 1-1 with struggling Fulham on Saturday, a result which leaves them seven points adrift of Reading, who currently occupy seventh position, with only four games of the season remaining.

However, Warnock is adamant no-one at Ewood is throwing in the towel, and with games against Reading and Tottenham Hotspur still to come during the run-in, the former Liverpool ace believes it would be foolish to write Rovers off just yet.

"It's not out of the question," said Warnock, referring to his side's qualification hopes.

"Some of the other clubs have got to play bigger teams than we've got left so we're definitely still in and around it.

"We won't give up until it's mathematically out of our hands and right now, we know we are still in there with a chance."

Trailing 1-0 to an early goal from Vincenzo Montella, Rovers mounted a stirring comeback at Craven Cottage, and after equalising courtesy of Benni McCarthy's 21st goal of the season, they should have gone on to seal all three points.

However, a succession of missed chances ended up costing Rovers dearly and they eventually had to settle for a point, much to manager Mark Hughes' frustration.

"We had some great chances and we were all very disappointed in the changing rooms after the game, but if we'd started the game properly and not let them take the lead, it might have been different," said Warnock, the creator of McCarthy's equaliser.

"I think we were our own worst enemies in the first 20 minutes.

"When we came out for the second half, we could have been 2-1 up within a couple of minutes because we had two great chances straight after each other, and you start to think is it going to be our day?' "We carried on creating chances after that and we thought we should have won, so we were deflated in the dressing room afterwards because it did feel like a defeat.

"But we've got to pick ourselves up for the next game and hopefully we can win all of our remaining games now."

If Rovers fail in their mission to finish in the top seven then they could still qualify for Europe via the Intertoto Cup this summer.

Seven Premiership clubs have applied to enter the Intertoto Cup - Blackburn, Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Fulham - and the one available place will go to the team that finishes highest outside the existing European places.

Warnock would not be fazed by the thought of playing in the competition if it opened a back door into Europe.

He added: "Newcastle have had great success through it this year, and teams have proved in the past they can have great success off it.

"We know that we can go into that and have a good run and hopefully get into Europe that way, if that's what it takes."

Rovers' reserves face Oldham Athletic today in the semi-finals of the Lancashire Senior Cup at Stalybridge Celtic's ground (kick off 2pm).