GARY Bowyer says his players have a duty to match the ‘fantastic effort’ of Blackburn Rovers supporters in tomorrow’s clash at Yeovil Town.

Around 1,000 Rovers fans will make the long trip to Somerset to take in the maiden meeting of the clubs.

And boss Bowyer said: “It’s going to be a tough place to go but we’re fortunate because we’ve got 1,000 supporters going.

“The away support we’ve received all season has been phenomenal but to get that number just four days before Christmas – travelling all that way – is a fantastic effort.

“It’s something we’ve stated to the players that if the supporters are making that effort we have to go and match that – and more.”

Rovers have never played the Glovers in a competitive match in their 138-year history.

They did, however, win Warren Patmore’s testimonial between the sides 13 years ago 10-0 at Yeovil’s Huish Park home.

In those days the Glovers were an ambitious Conference outfit battling to get into the Football League.

But this season marks their first in the Championship after their remarkable rise continued with promotion in May.

Yeovil operate on the smallest budget in the division – around £1m – and early-season results suggested they would be heading straight back to League One.

But they have not lost in four games since Gary Johnson bolstered his squad with the signing of three Premier League players – Everton’s John Lundstram, Nottingham Forest’s Ishmael Miller and Liverpool’s Adam Morgan – on emergency loans.

Bowyer is determined to build on the 3-2 home win over Millwall and the 0-0 draw at QPR and close the gap on the play-off places ahead of back-to-back home encounters with Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City.

But there is no danger of him underestimating a Glovers team that have beaten Blackpool and Nottingham Forest at home this season.

“They’ve got a good manager in Gary Johnson, he’s won promotion many a time so he knows what it’s about,” said Bowyer.

“I think the recent additions to their squad have helped them improve a lot. They’ve got Premiership players there.

“Some clubs have gone there this season and lost already so we know it’s going to be a tough game and that’s what we’ve been saying to the players.

“There are no easy games in the Championship. It’s whoever approaches the game with the right mindset.

“That’s what we’ve been stressing to our players this week – the importance of treating each game with the same respect and having a right good go at it.”

The match is Rovers’ first of four in the space of 12 days.

Bowyer will rotate his squad to cope with the demands of the hectic festive schedule – meaning new loan striker Rudy Gestede will get a chance to impress.

“We see him every day in training and he’s getting better and better,” said Bowyer.

“And what he does is offer us something different to what we’ve got.

“Over the Christmas period we expect him to feature a lot more than he has done.”