Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes insists they can still crack UEFA Cup qualification this season.

Hughes said: "We keep going, we have two games to go. We are in a decent position and have worked extremely hard to get where we are. We hope luck will be with us. We are hoping to overcome Aston Villa and Manchester City and if we can do that we will have had an outstanding season.

"We always work right up to the last minute of the last day of the season and that's maybe why we can pick up points towards the end of seasons. A lot of clubs do take their eye off the ball at this stage of the season but you can't criticise us for doing that.

"We do try to keep our focus right to the end of the season and we have got two games we need to try to win."

Yet regardless of whether Rovers make Europe, Hughes still believes his side have had a fine season.

The club started the campaign strongly and have proved a tough side to beat, as leaders Manchester United discovered when they were held to a draw at Ewood Park last month.

A poor run mid-season may prove ultimately costly in European terms but they are finishing strongly having lost just one of their last six.

Hughes added: "If we miss out it won't be for want of trying. It will have been a huge effort and although it would be disappointing if we do miss out, we can take credit from what we have achieved.

"We can win the last two games, we know that. That is what we are aiming to do and if we do that that puts us on 60-plus points. That's a great achievement in the Premier League."