Dunn backs Samba threat

Rovers ace believes defender can cause Liverpool problems

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 10th April 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dunn backs Samba threat

Samba: Can be a threat

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David Dunn is backing team-mate Chris Samba to have a big impact when Blackburn travel to Liverpool on Saturday.

The 6ft 5in centre-back is a handful at the best of times but after Chelsea exposed the Reds' inadequacies from set pieces in the midweek UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg the midfielder believes Samba can play a key role.

Despite Chelsea winning 3-1 on Wednesday Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is set to use Stoke City's template for how to nullify Liverpool's threat.

The Potters have twice drawn 0-0 with Rafa Benitez's men this season and Allardyce believes that his side can come away with a positive result if they can replicate their fellow strugglers' gameplan.

"When you play at Anfield there has to be different tactics, you have to be tactically different than if you were at Ewood Park, even against Liverpool," he said.

"I saw some very good tactics by a couple of teams against them, Stoke earlier on in the season, we got a lot of reports on what they did to stop Liverpool.

"It is more that than watching Chelsea, because whilst I've got very good players they aren't at the same level as Chelsea obviously.

Compete

"So we've got to go out and make sure we are going to be ready to run as long as we need to run, run as far as we need to run and compete as long as we need to compete.

"Then after that try and get playing and using the possession that we get as best as we possibly can and as effective as we possibly can and try and get into Liverpool's final third and cause them a few problems."

Samba was deployed as an emergency striker in the final stages of the 2-1 home win over Tottenham with successful results and Dunn believes that he can give Rovers a real attacking threat if they are chasing the game with 20 minutes to go.

"Chris was a real handful up there, so we'll probably look to him to maybe play a part and go up there and do the same again if we are struggling in the last 20 minutes," he explained.

"He's a big player for us, he has done very well since he came to the club a couple of seasons ago, and hopefully we can use him in his proper position more often than not.

"But he is a great threat to have when you want him to go up there."