Big Sam wants Ewood fear factor

Rovers boss Big Sam Allardyce wants teams to hate taking on Blackburn Rovers.

Rovers have been criticised since Big Sam took over in 2008 with the usual lazy stereotypes such as 'bully boys', 'long balls' and 'thugs' making an appearance in forums, websites and tabloids nationwide.

But the former Geordie and Wanderer manager has insisted it is just good sense to play to your strengths and has called for the team to keep doing it and make Rovers a fixture you would not relish.

Allardyce said in the Lancashire Telegraph - "Are we a side that no-one wants to play now? I hope so,"

"It brings us some adverse publicity at times because we get the old Sam Allardyce long ball, all that rubbish. But we play to our strengths if they`re needed.

"We didn`t play long ball on Saturday, we played through midfield when we could. We played up and in behind when we had to.

"Robbo knocked some great long balls into the box and Chris Samba uses his aerial power. You use the assets you`ve got and we used them very well today to get a result.

"We hope that puts a little bit more fear in everybody else that has to play us."

Rovers were great at home last season but were fairly bobbins on the road and the Blackburn head honcho wants to correct that imbalance by getting away form to at least bear some resemblance to that of the Ewood fixtures.

The big man continued - "We`ve managed to create that fear factor at home.

'Since I`ve been here I think in nearly two years we`ve lost only six at home.

"So we`ve created that little bit of fear from the opposition coming to play us at Ewood.

"If we can be hard to beat away from home then we can start having a good run of results and start looking at where we can go this season."

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.