Blackburn's draw with Stoke should give Rovers confidence, according to former assistant manager Neil McDonald.

The point edged them out of the Championship's relegation zone and up to 21st place.

"I think they'll gain confidence from the draw against Stoke," McDonald, Sam Allardyce's number two at Ewood Park between 2008-10, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Stoke are fifth in the league so that should give them [Rovers] confidence and they've got to try to kick on from there as much as they possibly can.

"Whether it's away or at home, whether it's one point, whether it's three points to keep that momentum going - that's what [Valerien Ismael] has to do after the international break."

Asked if he is worried about Blackburn facing a relegation fight, McDonald said: "I think you always are because after a certain amount of games - they've played [eight] - you normally have 10 or 11, 12 games and that's where you're going to be [in the league] unless you put a real good run together or you have an absolute nightmare and you drop off.

"So, that almost tells you. Are Blackburn going to be...