PHIL Jones insists he will take his Premier League plaudits in his stride as he bids to help maintain the ‘fear factor’ at Ewood Park.

The 18-year-old Lancashire lad was withdrawn from last night’s FA Youth Cup semi final to make a man of the match Premier League debut in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea - and is already drawing comparisons with John Terry.

Jones though insists he will keep his feet firmly on the ground and, ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Birmingham City, revealed his determination to play his part in keeping Ewood a fortress.

Blackburn Rovers have lost just twice at home all season, defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal, and, with Arsenal and Manchester United still to visit, Jones is hopeful he can play his part in maintaining their proud record.

He said: “This is a tough place to come. We have made it a fortress and people are fearing coming to Ewood Park and we have to keep it like that for the rest of the season.

“Will I play on Wednesday night? I don’t know. I will just keep going, do my own thing and hopefully I have shown I can play at this level and I will just keep going.

“That is a great compliment to be mentioned in the same breath as John Terry and I will take it. I will take that in my stride. To be compared to people like that is a massive confidence boost but I have to keep working hard and keep doing the right thing and hopefully I have shown I can play at this level.

“I will take each game as it comes and focus on my own game.”

Jones, who only turned 18 last month, had already impressed in his three cup appearances this season but manager Sam Allardyce stunned everyone when he handed him his Premier League bow against Didier Drogba & co.

Other options were available, with the likes of Pascal Chimbonda and Keith Andrews tried and tested at centre back, but Allardyce opted to throw the 18-year-old straight in at the deep end.

“We did some shape work on Thursday and I had a feeling I was playing then,” Jones said. “Obviously there were a few nerves but I was more excited to get out there than have nerves.

“It is just another game at the end of the day and one in which I knew I had to do well and play well. I think we played well as a team and deserved the point.

“I think we are looking upwards, we are looking at the higher end of the table and hopefully we can get as many points as possible and see where we can go from there.”

It was a series of three tackles made within a few first half seconds by Jones that changed the mood of Sunday’s clash completely, as the Ewood Park crowd stood as one to roar their approval at the youngster’s desire.

The moment proved a turning point, as players and fans alike increased the intensity, with Rovers suddenly making Chelsea’s afternoon a whole lot less comfortable.

He said: “I think the game needed something like that to spice the game up and get the crowd going. If that is what it took then that is what it needed.

“You have to be aggressive as a centre half but you have to be composed on the ball and I thought we did that very well.

“Right at the end I saw John Terry making the run and I lost him for a second and I just had to throw myself at the ball and thankfully it deflected off my head for a corner.”