Sam Allardyce: Blackburn fighting for survival
It is just the start of November and Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce believes that they already are fighting the relegation battle. Rovers are currently placed in the bottom three and they cannot afford to lose any more
games.
Blackburn play Wigan Athletic at home on Saturday and Big Sam has warned his team against any more slip-ups from now on. As they are fighting for survival, every game has become a must-win game for them.
Allardyce said, “We are already dragged in to a relegation scrap because it is very difficult to make up the points that you have dropped, it's hugely difficult to start catching up. For example against Birmingham we should have
had three points that day and if we had, then we would be in mid-table.”
Rovers have been guilty of throwing up matches this season already. When Morten Gamst Pedersen missed a crucial penalty against Birmingham City, “The Riversiders” lost the goal lead and eventually lost the game 2-1. Then again,
in the last match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Rovers conceded a late goal from Branislav Ivanovic in the 84th minute and lost all three points.
Blackburn’s home form has been impressive in recent years, but this season their home form has deserted them. Out of five games played so far at Ewood Park, the Blue and Whites have managed just one win, two draws, and two defeats.
In contrast, they had only three defeats in the last season.
If their performance is analysed it is not that bad, as they have had tough games at home against Arsenal and Chelsea. Nonetheless, keeping a clean sheet has been a major problem for Rovers. So far in 10 games this season they
have managed to score nine goals and conceded 12.
‘Big Sam’ has urged his team to show more loyalty to the home fans as they have stood behind the team and supported them, both, in good and bad times.
He said, “look at other dwindling attendances throughout the Premier League and look at ours and still see a very consistent attendance in the mid-20s. For a club like ours with a population we have got it shows a great affinity
with the fans - now we have to repay them."
Blackburn are just one point behind Wigan Athletic and six points behind Tottenham Hotspur, who are in fourth place just behind Manchester United. This shows how close the league is and how significant just one win can be. If they
manage to beat the ‘the Latics’ on Saturday, they will get out of relegation zone, which will be welcome news for both the club and the fans.
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