BLACKBURN boss Paul Ince has savaged the critics he feels are trying to tear the club apart.

Just a few months into his tenure at Ewood Park, Ince is under fire after a wretched run of nine Premier League games without a win, with Rovers one place off the foot of the table.

The only glimmer of light was a Carling Cup win at Sunderland last month to set up tonight’s quarterfinal with former club Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ince maintains he has the full support of chairman John Williams, and that the players are unified and determined to fight their way out of trouble.

He also insists he is thickskinned enough to withstand the flak flying his way, even if he believes much of it is venomous and uncalled for.

‘‘There are people trying to tear this club apart and it’s bang out of order,’’ Ince said.

‘‘People want us to fail, to not do well, to not succeed, and to not stay up.

‘‘But that gives me and my players the strength to prove people wrong, and now we have to start doing that.

‘‘We have to remain strong, and hopefully we’ll keep it strong.’’