Big Sam wary of Pompey

Sam Allardyce is confident his Blackburn side can continue their fine home form against Portsmouth but he is expecting a difficult game.

Rovers have impressed at Ewood Park this season, picking up three wins and one draw from their five home games and only losing to Manchester City on the opening day.

Failing to take a single point on the road has left Blackburn in the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's clash with bottom club Portsmouth.

However, Allardyce regards Blackburn as a 'top-six side' at home and is looking for another good performance from his men this weekend.

"As a team who plays at home we are a top-six team or better," he said on Sky Sports News.

"We have secured two points per game throughout the season and we have played very well indeed, particularly against Aston Villa and Burnley, and we have got to continue that mode.

"If we can do that I am very confident we can secure three points on Saturday, but it will be a very difficult game."

Difficult

Pompey may have only collected seven points from 11 games but they have improved rapidly in recent weeks.

The players they signed during the summer are showing signs of gelling together and Allardyce is wary of the threat they will present.

"We cannot take Portsmouth lightly, they are in really good form at the moment and Paul Hart has put together a team that has been made up from all over the world almost," he said.

"There has been a lot disruption but he has got those players into a team spirit and a shape that has finally started to pay dividends.

"It is a more difficult game on paper than I think people realise."