Blackburn boss Mark Hughes admits he has been impressed by the job that Wigan counterpart Steve Bruce has done since taking charge at Latics.Bruce, Hughes' former team-mate at Manchester United, has galvanised Wigan since taking the reins last November.

Latics are now six points above the relegation zone and are in decent form having gone four games unbeaten.

"He has done very well," said Hughes of Bruce. "They have turned their season around and are going in the right direction.

"They seem to have an energy and a physical presence to their play at the moment and that seems to be helping them.

"It will be difficult for us. They are not out of the relegation mix yet but I fully expect them to be safe in the coming weeks - but obviously after our match-up at the weekend."

Hughes has been disappointed with his side's home form this term, Rovers having won only six of their 15 matches at Ewood Park.

He sees it as a sign of success that opponents tend to play a more cagey game when visiting but it is nevertheless an issue he wants to address.

He said: "It's a case of getting positive results at Ewood, which we've struggled for. For whatever reason this season, our away form has been better.

"It is important we are really positive at home and understand teams will come and try to frustrate us.

"We have to deal with that better than we possibly have done this season.

"We have to view it as a sign of progress and acceptance of the success we have had that teams now see us as one of the better teams in the league.

"It is a case of dealing with that situation as best we can and making sure we get positive results."

Despite a Roque Santa Cruz hat-trick, Blackburn were beaten 5-3 by Wigan the last time the two sides met at the JJB Stadium in December.

It was a game in which Rovers' Brett Emerton was sent off and Hughes was unhappy with some other refereeing decisions.

"It was a bizarre game," Hughes said. "They ran away with the initial part and we had to get back on level terms under difficult circumstances down to 10 men.

"We showed great character to get back but we just went under because of the benefit they had from the extra player and dodgy offsides we felt were a little harsh.

"It is not a scoreline I expect to be replicated and hopefully we can turn the result."

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