BLACKBURN Rovers should not concern themselves with Fulham’s rising reputation or league position, according to head coach Tony Mowbray.

The Cottagers have won plenty of plaudits this season for their style of play and Slavisa Jokanovic’s side will move in to the top six with victory over Rovers at Craven Cottage tonight (7.45pm).

A 3-1 win at Newcastle United on Saturday has only heightened the expectations on the Londoners who, like Rovers, are unbeaten in their last five games

But Mowbray said: “When you’re a team at the top end of the table I know that you have targets and goals, as they must have.

“When they look at the table they are in a situation where they can break the top six and jump above Sheffield Wednesday.

“That’s a huge spur for them, I’m not sure there will be any negativity or concern in their minds about us, it will be all about them and how well they have played and how focused and concentrated they are on moving in to the top six.

“For us, for different reasons, we have to be focused and it is a game we should look forward to, not concern ourselves about them.

“We know they’re a good team who will have a lot of the ball, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to win.”

Former Rovers man Tom Cairney has been at the heart of much of Fulham’s good play this season, and the Scot scored a late winner in the reverse fixture at Ewood Park back in August.

His form this season has earned him plenty of admirers, as well as first call-up to the Scotland national squad.

Fresh from a brace against Newcastle on Saturday, 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon has also been making the headlines.

But Mowbray says Rovers’ focus won’t simply be about frustrating Fulham, adding: “Like every football game we have to try and stop them scoring and look to score ourselves.

“You have to be prepared for everything – we know they’re a top team with fast strikers and a 16-year-old who is grabbing all the headlines.

“It’s all generally filtered through Cairney who keeps the ball moving around the pitch very nicely for them, and is a player that Rovers fans know well. But we hope to go there and ask some questions of them.”

Rovers fell back in to the bottom three after Saturday’s draw at Norwich, despite playing against 10 men for over 70 minutes.

Mowbray was left frustrated by the result, having worked hard to get 2-1 in front, only to concede an equaliser within three minutes.

But looking back on the game, the head coach believes there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.

“I think it is right to emphasise the positive stuff from the weekend,” he said.

“Ultimately the frustration came from being in front with eight minutes to go and not taking all three points.

“But it was great to see the desire to keep going.

“We’ll take those positives into the next game and realise that we can hurt teams, we can score goals, we can be competitive in all games, whatever type it is.”