BLACKBURN Rovers captain Matt Kilgallon has urged his team-mates to treat their final four games of the season just as importantly as they did their big FA Cup clashes with Liverpool.

Since losing their quarter-final replay to the Reds 10 days ago Rovers have drawn back-to-back Championship matches to end any slim hopes they had of making the play-offs.

MORE TOP STORIES:

But whereas their manager Gary Bowyer praised their performance in the 0-0 draw at Reading last Saturday he was less complimentary about the way they played in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Birmingham City.

The Rovers boss was furious after his side, who welcome Nottingham Forest to Ewood Park today (3pm), threw away three points for the ninth time this season after going in front.

Kilgallon can understand Bowyer’s frustration yet he insists the players are determined not to let the season ‘fizzle out’.

“We should be beating teams like Birmingham because we’re a lot better than them,” said the defender, who opened the scoring at St Andrew’s with his first goal of the season.

“But it’s a funny game and sometimes it happens like that.

“I’m sure if we were going for something it wouldn’t have happened.

“They are funny games to play in and if you don’t prepare right or do it right, you always play badly.

“You’ve got to get your head on so it’s like an FA Cup quarter-final.

“So, yes, I can understand why the gaffer was disappointed.

“We don’t want this season to fizzle out, we need to keep going at it, and we’ll be preparing right for Forest.

“And I’m sure they will too because it’s two big teams playing each other.”

While Kilgallon is disappointed with Rovers’ failure to make the top six he has been pleased with his own performances since regaining his place in the team in January.

And the 31-year-old’s impressive form is set to be rewarded with a new contract before his current two-year deal runs out in the summer.

“I’m really enjoying my football,” said Kilgallon, who has captained Rovers since February after skipper Grant Hanley was ruled out by a calf injury.

“I was given my chance in January and I’ve never looked back. I’ve cracked on and I’ve done what I know I could always do.

“I was disappointed when I was not starting but the gaffer made his decision to go with someone else and that was fine.

“I just had to keep myself fit and when my chance came I knew I would take it and keep the shirt.

“So, as I say, I’m really enjoying it, and it was nice to get a goal the other night because the ball doesn’t seem to come to me that often in the opposition box.”

But Kilgallon’s delight at breaking his duck for the campaign was tempered by the final outcome.

“We were disappointed because we should have beaten them,” said the centre-back, who is not the only Rovers players in talks over a new contract.

“We had a great chance at 2-1 to make it 3-1 and that’s what football is always like, you miss a good chance and then they score.

“We should be beating teams like Birmingham. And there’s been too many times we’ve said that season. I “If we want to be up there next season we’ve got to start beating teams who are at the bottom.”