RYAN Nelsen wants Blackburn Rovers to return to their usual selves against Fulham tomorrow - by becoming hard to beat again.

The rock solid reputation the team has built since the New Zealander joined in January was demolished in last Saturday's Premiership curtain raiser at West Ham United.

Although Nelsen was injured and missed the 3-1 defeat at Upton Park, he still felt the intense despondency circulating the dressing room after Rovers' second half horror show.

"The team was very disappointed because that's not us," said Nelsen.

"We've built a reputation to be a team that doesn't concede very easily. We don't lie down, you've got to earn your wins against us.

"But saying that is easy from the sidelines. I wasn't involved in the game but I'm not talking behind the boys' backs.

"They were very disappointed because they let in some soft goals."

The last time Rovers faced Fulham at Ewood Park, they were on the wrong end of another 3-1 scoreline in the final home game of last season.

On that occasion Nelsen was playing, and it's the heaviest defeat he's been involved in since coming to the club.

But being available for selection again now his knee injury has healed, the centre half is determined he can put things right if given the chance tomorrow.

"It was the last game of the season for the home fans and it would have left them with a bitter taste in their mouths," said Nelsen.

"Hopefully we can remedy that this weekend."

But one thing Nelsen doesn't want to change in his team-mates is the competitive will to win that has epitomised Rovers throughout 2005.

Although the FA fined the club this week for the number of bookings they picked up, Nelsen reckons no player can ever think about compromising Premiership points to improve their disciplinary record.

And he thinks it's the public perception of Rovers that has to change rather than the way they approach their games.

He said: "The record speaks for itself, we had the worst record last year but people have made too much of it.

"Now you start to think a Blackburn tackle will get a booking, but the same tackle by another team won't.

"Because it's been blown up in the press it's got to be in the minds of the referees and that's what is more worrying.

"We could get 10 yellow cards but another club that makes the same tackles might only get six.

"The referees here are fantastic, they are the best, but you do worry when it's all over the media because it does influence people.

"But it's never an issue with us. Obviously you'd like to have a cleaner record but it's not going to influence the way we play, how we defend or how we tackle."