Blackburn 1-1 West Ham: Sam Allardyce relieved after Keith Andrews bags a point for Bolton

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Sam Allardyce has vowed to unleash his secret weapon in the form of giant defender Chris Samba to ensure Blackburn stay in the Premier League.

Samba, 6ft 5in and affectionately nicknamed King Kong by his Rovers team-mates, is ready to answer Allardyce's call and play as an auxiliary striker for the rest of the season to aid Blackburn's survival plan.

At Ewood Park on Saturday, Samba spent virtually as much time in West Ham's penalty area as his own, and Allardyce wants to utilise the big 25-year-old's menacing presence up front to unsettle opposition defences.

"Chris is one of our major assets," said Allardyce. "Not only as a defender but in getting us opportunities to score goals. He will strike fear throughout the Premier League with his aerial power.

"I'm going to use him to his absolute maximum because it's something that we will be renowned for. The opposition will worry about his aerial power every time they play us.

"He'll not only be known as a great defender but someone who makes opportunities for us to score goals. He can come out from the back because he used to be a centre-forward up until he was 17.

"He's 6ft 5in, has great feet, and can come out and play from the back. He's a huge asset to the club. I'll still use him up front when we get Roque Santa Cruz back, absolutely.

Chris is a tremendous force."

If Blackburn are to preserve their top-flight status, they will have to show more conviction infront of goal in their remaining eight games and convert the kind of chances they managed to squander against a resilient West Ham side.

Allardyce summed up Blackburn's wastefulness in front of goal when he said: "I'll be depressed when I see the ProZone stats on Monday because they'll show we had about 20 attempts at goal and lots on target.

"Generally that gives you a 2-0 or 3-0 win, but that hasn't happened. In situations like the one we're in, you need to hold your nerve and do your best under pressure."

Samba, who once scored 18 goals in a season as a teenage striker playing for French side Sedan, said he was up for the challenge of being Blackburn's human bulldozer, causing maximum carnage in opposition penalty areas.

"If I can contribute one goal here or there it would be very important," said Samba.

"Against West Ham there were a lot of chances created from free-kicks but every time there was a block on the line, which was frustrating.

"I've been told I'm allowed to get forward, depending on the state of the game, when the space is free in front of me to try to create something. If I can bring this to the team as well as my defending, I think it will be good.

"Sometimes in games you're trying so hard to get a goal that you forget for a moment that you're a defender. But if you carry on doing it, you are going to score some goals.

"Last year I scored the winner against Tottenham but I hope that I will score an even more important one this year.

"It may not be a pretty one, but I hope the best is yet to come.

"When the boss says he wants me to go out and 'scare' opponents, I don't think he means scare them with my personality.

But I think I can do what he wants.

"I've played as a striker so I will definitely try to contribute.

If the manager wants me to be more offensive, I will try to do my best. But I'm a defender first."

West Ham went ahead in the 34th minute, midfielder Mark Noble - making his 100th appearance for Hammers - executing a sublime finish with the outside of his right foot.

Allardyce was angry the goal was allowed to stand because he claimed West Ham's Luis Boa Morte was marginally offside in the build-up.

But had Blackburn shown more of a killer touch in front of goal, the controversial decision would have been nothing more than an afterthought.

As it was, Keith Andrews came off the bench to grab Blackburn's equaliser in the 54th minute and secure what could prove a vital point in the grim battle for survival.

Man Of The Match: James Tomkins - Superb defensive display from the impressive teenager

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH: Chris Foy (Ref) - Failed to spot the offside for West Ham's goal

Blackburn: Robinson 6, Ooijer 5 (Andrews 46, 7), Samba 7, Nelsen 7d, Givet 7, Diouf 7, Mokoena 7d, Warnock 7, Pedersen 6, McCarthy 7, Roberts 6. Goal: Andrews 51

West Ham: Green 7, Neill 7, Tomkins 7,Spector 7, Ilunga 6, Noble 7, Parker 7d, Kovac 7, Boa Morte 7 (Lopez 79), Tristan 6 (Payne 89), Di Michele 6 (Dyer 82). Goal: Noble 35

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