Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce hopes Blackburn Rovers stick with Paul Ince after their 3-0 win yesterday.

Winger Antonio Valencia was the star for the hosts, crossing in the 10th minute for Emile Heskey to cleverly backheel past England team-mate Paul Robinson before firing in the second two minutes later.

He then provided the assist for Lee Cattermole's 77th-minute effort.

"I had a cup of tea with him before [the match]. I have known him a long time and at the end I just said 'Keep your chin up'.

"He has played at the highest level and you don't play for Inter Milan, Liverpool and Man U without having a bit of bottle and Incey has plenty of that.

"He will come out fighting and snarling and determined to turn it around.

"We have all been there. If he does turn it round, which I'm sure he will, it will make him a better manager."

Bruce called on Blackburn to stick by Ince, who is only four months into his maiden Premier League campaign having arrived from MK Dons in the summer to replace Mark Hughes.

"When you employ a young manager new to the game you have to back him and give him every resource to pull him through.

"Otherwise if you discard them it is pointless and we lose a potentially very good young manager.

"He has done well with MK Dons and Macclesfield so let's give him a chance.

"I thought his team were okay, we just blitzed them away in the first 20 minutes.

"We have got off to the best possible start against a team which is low on confidence.

"Antonio was absolutely at his rampaging best and he can do that to any team."