BRAD Friedel is encouraging his Blackburn team-mates to keep the football flowing as they prepare for their first Premiership away game.

The Rovers goalkeeper has taken massive encouragement from the side's second half fightback against West Bromwich Albion in their opening day 1-1 draw.

And he insists that if the players continue to stick to their passing game it could reap rich rewards at Southampton this Saturday.

Friedel said: "I thought it was a tribute to the way we played in the second half because we were down a goal and everyone still wanted to play football.

"That was nice because we weren't just lumping the ball forward, we weren't playing nervous, we passed it.

"We came out in the second half really positive and Tugay was absolutely magnificent when he came on. It was just a shame we couldn't get the second goal."

Although their first fixture of the season was at home against a newly-promoted side, Rovers were relatively pleased with a point.

West Brom set their stall out to prevent the home side playing and their frustrating tactics took their toll in the game's early stages.

"You can look back and be a genius in hindsight," added Friedel. "If we score early on in that type of game, we go on and win comfortably because they are going to have to come at us. Then we can really play our football.

"We had a couple of claims for penalties and I have no idea whether they were or not from where I was, but the lads said the one in the first half was a definite handball.

"But we were pleased with coming away with a point. We didn't win but I think everyone gave their all and that's all you can ask."

However, Friedel has revealed his despair over the goal that he conceded in the first half against Albion.

The American international was fuming that Neil Clement's free kick found its way through the wall and into the back of his net.

"It was a really, really bad goal to give away because balls can't go through walls," he said.

"It came off one of our players but it went straight through the wall and that's a no-no because you set up a wall for a reason."

Rovers reserves return to action tonight when they go to Sunderland.

Lucas Neill will step up his recovery from an ankle injury after missing the season's kick-off against West Brom on Saturday.

Team: Yelldell, Neill, Morgan, Danns, Bruce, Peers, Harkins, Douglas, Jansen,

Thompson, Donnelly. Subs: Andy Taylor, Fileding, Jemal Johnson, Derbyshire, Byrom, Luke Jones.

The match takes place at Durham FC's Archibald Stadium, 7pm kick-off.