HUGHES GUARDS AGAINST COMPLACENCY

Mark Hughes is adamant there will be no chance of his Blackburn team taking their foot off the gas against Lithuanian outfit Vilnius Vetra in the Intertoto Cup.

Rovers travel east for their third-round first-leg on Sunday where they will come up against a Vetra side currently sitting sixth in the Lithuanian League.

Vetra led Legia Warsaw 2-0 in the first leg of the previous round only for the game to be abandoned due to rioting by the Polish fans which subsequently saw Legia thrown out.

Hughes will not underestimate the quality of Vetra and thinks the fact that their league season is at its midway point will also be a factor.

Hughes said: "We've had them watched and they're a nice footballing side who try to get the ball down and play.

"They caused Legia Warsaw a few problems because they were 2-0 up when the game was abandoned so they're no mugs.

"It's not easy going to these places. You have to approach it in the right way and get the job done but if we approach it right, which I fully expect us to do, then we're more than capable of going through.

"We're can't afford to write them off because they're right in the middle of their season.

"They've played 18 games whereas we've played two, so we'll be mindful of that.

"Even in pre-season games, if a team has had a couple more games there can be a marked difference, so we're aware that maybe match-fitness-wise, they'll be up to speed whereas we're not quite there at the moment."

Despite talking up his opponents, Hughes expects to be returning home on Sunday with an advantage to take into the second leg on July 28.

Hughes added: "They'll be organised, fully professional and they're in the middle of their season so it won't be easy, but I think we've got the strength and the ability in our side to be able to overcome them.

"We're looking to win the game. We don't particularly want to concede and if we can get an away goal under our belts that will make our task a lot easier.

"The important thing is not to get beaten and to make sure we're in a position to win the second leg, which we fully expect to."

Meanwhile, Hughes expects Francis Jeffers to stay and fight for his place after a move to Championship club Ipswich broke down last week.

The 26-year-old joined Rovers on a two-year deal last summer but had a spell on loan with the Tractor Boys after failing to make an impression on Hughes' first-team.

He made just three Premiership starts last term and, despite adding Maceo Rigters this summer, Hughes is still looking for another striker.

But Hughes does not want Jeffers to go out on loan again, hinting he would only consider a permanent deal as a resolution to the situation.

He continued: "He's still part of our plans but it's just going to be a little bit more difficult for Franny to break through.

"But he's here and he's our player and I won't be looking to send him out on loan, he'll be here and trying to get in the side."

Taken from =football365=