Allardyce switches focus

Rovers boss turns attention to top-flight survival

Last updated: 6th January 2009

Allardyce switches focus

Allardyce: Rested key men on Monday

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Sam Allardyce has turned his attention back to Premier League survival after securing FA Cup progression.

The Blackburn boss saw his side book their place in the fourth round of English football's most prestigious knockout competition with a narrow 1-0 win over Blyth Spartans on Monday.

Allardyce rested his entire first-choice team for the clash against the Blue Square North minnows, with half an eye on Rovers' continued bid for top-flight security.

The Ewood Park chief admits that a trip to Fulham on Saturday is now his priority, especially as his side currently sit 19th in the league - two points from safety.

"We hadn't lost in three matches - now we haven't lost in four," said Allardyce.

Changes

"These lads have done well tonight, but I can't see me making too many changes.

"That team that has played so well with such little reward - because they should have had more than five points - will be very much in the frame to play against Fulham."

Carlos Villanueva grabbed a 59th-minute winner against Blyth, but Allardyce admits Rovers were fortunate to survive a late rally from their non-league opponents.

"I would say some good defending and some poor finishing from our point of view meant we should have had a good two or three-goal lead by that time, but didn't, so we all had our hearts in our mouths when that one (a late chance for Andrew Wright) came across," he said.

Realistic

Blyth boss Harry Dunn felt his side acquitted themselves well against illustrious opposition, but concedes the scoreline could have been more conclusive had Rovers fielded their strongest side.

Dunn said: "If Sam had put his first team out, you have got to be realistic, we probably wouldn't have had a hope in hell.

"The main feature from our point of view was not to concede goals because if we had conceded two, we weren't going to score three.

"But at one, you always have a chance and for us to stay in the game as long as we did was great testament to the players."