“There is no point feeling sorry for yourself, there is no point in the players feeling sorry for themselves, they have just got to keep believing,” he said.

Ince found a supporter in Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who backed his former Manchester United team-mate to turn things around at Ewood Park.

Bruce said: “He has played at the highest level and you don’t play for Inter Milan, Liverpool and Man United 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.”

Liverpool are finding the going rather more smooth than Rovers, but there are still concerns for boss Rafael Benitez.

He admits they are finding things “difficult” at home after having to settle for their third consecutive league draw at Anfield – 2-2 against Hull.

Steven Gerrard scored twice in eight minutes as the Reds battled back from two goals down.

Benitez said: “It is becoming difficult at home, where we do not have as much space to play because teams defend deep.”

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp could still bring a goalkeeper to White Hart Lane next month despite the heroics of Heurelho Gomes in the goalless draw against Manchester United.

“I’ve got confidence in him,” said Redknapp. “Whether I bring another keeper onto the staff is another matter.

“He’s been excellent and if he can keep these performances up we haven’t got a problem.

“But I’d like to bring in another keeper as cover or someone to battle it out with him.”

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson also felt the performance of Gomes was key, adding: “We dominated the game for the most part and their goalkeeper has made two fantastic saves near the end.”

Arsene Wenger refuses to accept Arsenal’s title bid is over, despite seeing another two points dropped against Middlesbrough.

Jeremie Aliadiere denied his former side victory by cancelling out Emmanuel Adebayor’s early opener.

Arsenal are now outside the Champions League places in fifth, but Wenger is still not writing their chances off.

“We believe that champions are people who go on when everybody else stops,” he said.

“That’s the way we can show it. Nobody believes in us but we can show we still believe and keep going.”

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill felt the performance of two-goal forward Gabriel Agbonlahor was key as the midlanders moved back into the top four with a 4-2 win over Bolton.

O’Neill said: “Gabby was exceptional. I thought he was terrific last week against Everton as well even though he didn’t score.

“But he got his rewards and I thought his performance was absolutely sensational – and his first goal was a vital part of the game.”

Emergency striker Tim Cahill scored an injury-time winner to give Everton a 1-0 victory at Manchester City.

And Toffees boss David Moyes was impressed by his side’s character after they bounced back from a last-gasp loss of their own against Villa last time out.

He said: “I thought it was a fabulous performance and result. If ever a team and its character was going to be judged it was today after the defeat (by Villa).”

Elsewhere, Stoke boss Tony Pulis accepted his side were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Danny Higginbotham appeared to handle the ball in the area in their goalless draw with Fulham.

Ricky Sbragia, meanwhile, insists he is “not even thinking about” the possibility of replacing Roy Keane on a permanent basis despite guiding Sunderland to a 4-0 thrashing of West Brom.