Allardyce : Long ball? You're having a laugh

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has defended claims his Blackburn Rovers side are just a long ball team and claims his side do not get the credit and recognition that they deserve.

Big Sam carries rumour of 'hoofball' wherever he goes, sometimes harshly and it clearly bugs the Large One.

Sam Allardyce, speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph said - "We have struggled away and battled away and the battle is looking a little less harder than it was last year and the early part of this season.

"Our form and general play has got better over the last few games and four wins at home on the trot is very nice and very close to making us safe.

"We don`t play the long ball. People need to concentrate on reality rather than perception. It is an easy thing for people to say about us but it isn`t correct.

"People just think Sam Allardyce and long ball but that is not fair on my players. We are playing some good stuff at times, perhaps they should get more credit.

"It is not my players fault, it is mine. Actually no, it is you guys who write about perception and not reality."

There are always two sides to every story and whilst Sam is reliant on the long ball and using the target man I believe that a lot of the people who label Rovers long ball often do not watch the matches we play in and just go with accepted norm.

Recently, Rovers have been mixing up the approach play to good success.

There has been a mixture of wing play, intricate touch and yes, some direct, long ball as well.

But to label Rovers recent performances as just long ball is showing a great ignorance.

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