Allardyce hails hat-trick hero Diouf

25 August 2010 07:49
Sam Allardyce paid tribute to on-loan striker Mame Biram Diouf after he scored a hat-trick in Blackburn's 3-1 Carling Cup win over Norwich.[LNB] The 22-year-old, brought in from Manchester United earlier this month, rewarded his boss for handing him his first start after two Premier League appearances with an impressive performance in the second-round tie.[LNB]Diouf, a Senegal international, headed the opener in the 29th minute, stabbed home his second 11 minutes from time and nodded in a third late on but could easily have had a couple more, having hit the bar from close range.[LNB]"We made hard work of it to be honest," admitted Allardyce.[LNB]"I thought we had already had many chances to get the second goal before we finally got it and it was a really good performance and a comfortable victory.[LNB]"Diouf scored three very good goals but could have scored more than that - the easiest one he missed when he headed it on to the bar.[LNB]"A hat-trick for one of our players is always very encouraging and hopefully he can carry on scoring in the Premier League.[LNB]"But he took up lovely positions; for the first goal he drifts off to the far post, gets himself unmarked and waits for the flick-on and then runs in and taps it in.[LNB]"His third one he pulls away unmarked at the far post, Morten (Gamst Pedersen) floats in a lovely ball and he couldn't really miss that one.[LNB]"He does look a natural goalscorer in that he drifts into the right positions and that is not coachable.[LNB]"If we put balls in those sort of areas he will get on the end of them and that is not what we have got really."[LNB]Allardyce was also impressed by Pedersen's performance as he played alongside Diouf instead of his usual midfield role.[LNB]"He played up top today, which is what we did in Sydney (in a pre-season friendly)," the Rovers boss added.[LNB]"I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with him up front today, it's a nice alternative to see him playing at the top end.[LNB]"He provided a lot of good quality for other players."[LNB]Berthal Askou's 90th-minute goal was little consolation for Norwich, whose manager Paul Lambert admitted could have dealt with Diouf better.[LNB]"I thought we played well in certain parts of the game but they are a major threat from set-pieces and we got hurt with the first one," he said.[LNB]"We kept on going and created chances ourselves and their goalkeeper pulled off some good saves.[LNB]"It was not the first header from the long throw that is the problem, it is the second one.[LNB]"You have to match runners and if you don't match runners that's what happens, especially at the higher level you go up.[LNB]"We'll learn from it for sure."

Source: Team_Talk