Pulis: Tough job
Tony Pulis admits managers in the modern game are under more pressure than ever to deliver results.
The stresses facing club bosses have been highlighted this week with the news that Blackburn coach Sam Allardyce is set to undergo heart surgery on Friday.
Tests have revealed that the 55-year-old Rovers boss, who has complained of chest pains in recent weeks, requires an angioplasty to widen a narrowed coronary artery.
Allardyce is expected to be back in work as early as Monday, but will again leave first-team duties in the hands of his assistant Neil McDonald when Blackburn entertain Stoke on Saturday.
Potters boss Pulis has offered his support to Allardyce's cause ahead of the trip to Ewood Park, and admits that managers must be wary of the implications their job can have on their health.
"There is more pressure now than there has ever been on managers in respect of getting results," Pulis said.
"The media now has become an absolute monster.
"Whether it's the internet, radio, television, there are always areas of debate, but you have to accept it.
"We know where we are and what job we are doing and we know that all the experts are sitting in the stand."
Pulis looks to keep himself in the best possible shape to help aid against any health issues, and successfully completed the London Marathon earlier this year.
"You never like to see anybody in Sam's state, having to go in and having an operation," he said.
"I'm sure the people that are working with Sam are decent people.
"I work hard fitness-wise, try to keep myself as fit as I possibly can in the time that I get."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| Monday 22nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Bolton |
| Sunday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 6th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Tottenham vs Blackburn |
| Sunday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Sunday 28th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Burnley vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 10th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 17th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Everton |
| Saturday 24th April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 1st May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 9th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Blackburn |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 1 Wigan | |
| Wednesday 20th January | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Aston Villa 6 - 4 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 0 Fulham | |
| Thursday 14th January | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Blackburn 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 4 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON | |
| Aston Villa 3 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 2 Tottenham | |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 2 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Wednesday 2nd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Blackburn 3 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Everton | 24 | 32 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 24 | 30 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 28 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 25 | 26 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 24 | 24 |
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