No Risks With Big Sam

Blackburn Rovers assistant manager Neil McDonald was left to run the show for Rovers on Tuesday evening as we thrashed Peterborough 5-2 in the Carling Cup.

Following the swine flu bout that has affected the club this week McDonald has confirmed that Sam Allardyce decided to stay away from the touchline for the Fourth Round match at Ewood Park as he wasn't feeling and didn't want to risk passing anything on. However, Allardyce did this safe in the knowledge that his coaching staff would manage fine.

McDonald told Sky Sports: "He is feeling a little unwell, so he sat upstairs as he wanted to see the picture from above.

"He trusts in his staff which is excellent, and he was at the game but he didn't want to take any chances.

"He shot out just to make sure nobody gets what he might have."

McDonald is a coach (or manager) and no medic so admits that he does not know much about the swine flu illness but did confirm that this is now under control and isn't expected to spread any further.

He added: "It's under control. We had a squad up on Monday and everyone came through from that squad which was great. We will monitor it on a 24-hour basis. Everyone seems okay.

"I'm not a medic so I don't know how it is passed on, but you can spit, cough, sneeze - anything that comes out of your body is how it is passed on I suppose.

"I think there is always a problem in it spreading, but we are doing our best to try and contain everything by doing the right things and monitoring everyone, and we will continue to do that. Hopefully it won't spread any more, fingers crossed."

Arguably the highlight of the evening was a first goal for Nikola Kalinic, something that should now do him the world of good and see more to come. And the Rovers assistant manager is expecting more to come from him now that the Croatian is getting used to the pace and style of the Premier League and English game in general.

McDonald ended by saying: "He has created a couple of good chances and to get that first goal will take the pressure off him of course - but that's against Peterborough.

"He has been patient and we have seen glimpses of what he can do certainly. He'll only get stronger I'm sure."

McDonald and the boys got the job done, this was always the most important thing now we can await the Quarter-Final draw knowing that we're inching ever closer to the Final!!


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