Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce hopes Blackburn Rovers give his former Manchester United teammate Paul Ince time to prove himself at Ewood Park.

"If Incey does come through it, and I've every confidence he will, the people who employ him have got to stand up as well," said Bruce.

"I could have been sitting in his boots if we did not have a good November because we had a horrible October. You can go months without a victory in the Premier League.

"That's why you need the people who employ you to say 'he's our man, give him a bit of time'.

"When they were baying for my blood at Birmingham City, I went to Derby and had to win that game. We did, with a deflected goal, and we went on and won 13 on the spin and got promoted.

"But I was also at Huddersfield and got the sack. We live and die by results. But are 16 games enough time to stamp yourself on a club? He's just starting to sow the seeds, but no manager ever gets time."