DEPARTING Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Lambert said the support his side received in their 1-0 win at Rotherham United was as good as anything he has experienced.

Rovers were roared on by 1,225 fans in their final away game of the campaign and their first since Lambert announced he was leaving.

And afterwards the former Borussia Dortmund, Celtic and Scotland midfielder said: “The supporters were absolutely unbelievable.

“I’ve been in football a long time and when you get moments like that it’s absolutely brilliant.

“I can only thank them for the support I’ve had since I walked in the door. I went to the Disabled Supporters Club awards the other night and it just sinks in how special this club is.

“The fans support the club through thick and thin and they will long after I’m away. It’s a brilliant club but it just needs a bit of help.

“That crowd will live with me. I’ve been involved in huge games, a Champions League final, a UEFA Cup final, winning domestic cups, and playing in front of big crowds, but the support we’ve had here was unbelievable.

“It’s moments like that which make the game of football great.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Lambert has activated an escape clause in his contract which will allow him to walk away from the club at the end of the season after failing to receive assurances from Venky’s.

Rovers’ India-based owners were subject to ‘Venky’s out’ chants before, during and after a match settled by Shane Duffy’s sixth-minute header from a Matt Grimes corner.

There was also one cry for ‘Lambert to stay’ toward the end of the contest but he insisted the backing he received from the stands would not reverse his decision to leave.

He said: “I can’t let sentiment or emotion dictate my decision.

“I’d love to stay but my mind is made up and I have to go. If I had my own way, would I go? Then, no, I wouldn’t.”

Lambert was also in glowing in his praise of the Rovers players after they ended their six-game winless run by becoming the first team to beat revived Rotherham in 12 matches.

He said: “I thought we were excellent. We were up against a team who were unbeaten in 11 but their goalkeeper was man of the match so that speaks volumes of the way we played.

“The system worked great and the players were great. I told them during the week I’d be going and that’s why they probably played so well!  They probably thought, ‘he’s away, so we’ll start to play well!’

“They were great and I don’t think you could single out one particular player. They were all fantastic.”

Rotherham, like Rovers, had their survival secured the previous weekend and manager Neil Warnock said: “You need that edge and the competitiveness it gives you. You lose your edge when there is nothing to play for. It’s life I’m afraid.

“I don’t think we were prepared. The goal comes and he didn’t have to jump for the header. It was a Sunday League goal and I was disappointed in that.

“We lost the game but I can’t fault the lads. They have been remarkable but everybody has played their part from the chairman down to the tea lady.”