Big Sam has done a big job at Blackburn

By David Anderson

Published 09:00 31/03/10

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It's hard for Blackburn to get much coverage when they're having the kind of steady, but unspectacular season they are having.

Those of us living outside East Lancashire only seem to pay them any attention when they're in Europe or fighting relegation.

But the fact that they were never really sucked into the dogfight at the bottom says it all about the job Sam Allardyce has done there.

When he succeeded Paul Ince 15 months ago, Blackburn were heading in only one direction - down.

He pulled them out of that nosedive and, despite having to operate on a smaller and smaller budget, he has had great success with Rovers this season.

Sunday's relatively easy victory over Burnley in the bitter East Lancs derby, which makes the Arab-Israeli conflict look like a squabble, lifted them to 41 points.

That's some achievement given the restrictions Big Sam has to work under.

His critics - and he has plenty - try to dismiss him, claiming his teams only play direct, physical football.

But while Allardyce prides himself on how difficult it is to play against Rovers, especially at Ewood Park, there is also a subtlety to their play.

David Dunn, Morten Gamst Pedersen, El-Hadji Diouf, Martin Olsson and Junior Hoilett are not your archetypal long-ball merchants.

Dunn, in particular, is having a terrific season and Blackburn might have been pushing for Europe if the midfield playmaker had been fit all season.

So enough of the sniping at Allardyce. It's time Big Sam got some credit for the fine job he is doing at Blackburn.

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