MIDFIELDER Tom Cairney insists Blackburn Rovers will recover from the devastation at seeing their proud unbeaten league run end by taking it out on Bournemouth on Saturday.

The home clash with the Cherries comes hot on the heels of Tuesday night’s controversial and heartbreaking late loss to Norwich City.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The 3-1 reverse put a halt to Rovers’ run of 14 Championship games without defeat and left Cairney feeling as low as he has ever done in his burgeoning career.

But the 23-year-old has no doubt he and his team-mates can pick themselves up for the visit of a Bournemouth side who were the last team to leave Ewood Park with three points back on March 12.

Cairney, who broke the deadlock at Norwich with what he believes is the best goal he has scored, said: “I can’t ever remember feeling like that after a game, it was silent in the dressing room. The boys gave everything so we were distraught.

“But Robbo (Paul Robinson) said in the dressing room it is sometimes about how you lose and we definitely went down fighting.

“The boys worked so hard for each other, it was unbelievable, because the unbeaten league run meant a lot to us.

“But now we’ve got to take that frustration out on Bournemouth on Saturday.

“It will not be easy because they’re a good side who have started well.

“The boys have covered a lot of miles (on Tuesday) but we’ll rest our legs and I’m sure we’ll have the quality and the firepower to cause them a few problems.”

Cairney moved level with Rudy Gestede at the top of Rovers’ scoring charts on Tuesday after he netted his second stunning strike of the season.

But he admitted his first-minute goal at Carrow Road surpassed his superb effort in the opening day draw at home to Cardiff City.

“I don’t think I’ve ever hit a sweeter one than that,” said Cairney, whose favourite other goal for Rovers came away at Barnsley last season.

“It was my first touch and I’ve never had a better first touch. If felt surreal, as if I was still in the warm up.

“It was a great goal but it’s just a shame we didn’t get a win or a draw with it.”

Two minutes after Cairney’s sensational opener Rovers had an appeal for a penalty turned down after Steven Whittaker handled Jordan Rhodes’ goalbound effort in the box.

And they were further riled when referee Graham Scott awarded Norwich a penalty, from which they eventually equalised after Paul Robinson had saved the initial attempt, after a cross into the box struck Jason Lowe’s arm.

Cairney said: “I don’t see how you can give a penalty against Jason Lowe and not give ours.

“Everyone appealed and when everyone appeals there’s usually a lot of truth in it.

“I don’t know whether it was too early in the game or the ref felt pressure from the crowd as there was 25,000 there.

“But no matter how early it is, he’s got to do the right thing and he didn’t.”