Source: Team_Talk
Allardyce keeping Dunn on a leash
lackburn manager Sam Allardyce admits there are times this season when he has had to protect midfielder David Dunn for his own good.[LNB] Dunn has a chequered injury history and this campaign has been no different with him sitting out a five-week period over December with other shorter spells also.[LNB]However, despite starting only 23 matches he has scored 10 goals, which Allardyce believes is a terrific return for a Rovers midfielder.[LNB]And despite his best efforts to keep the 30-year-old fit, Allardyce wishes Dunn had been available for more games.[LNB]"He has had only 23 starts so he is just under scoring one in two, which surprises me," said the Rovers boss.[LNB]"Just think how many goals he would have got for us had he stayed fit.[LNB]"We could have had Dunny getting up to the realms of scoring 12 to 15 goals and that might have made the difference (between being mid-table and inside the top 10).[LNB]"He scored the goal at Bolton (on November 22) which helped us to our first victory away from home and then we lost him for long periods of time.[LNB]"We didn't score in another away game until his penalty at Burnley (on March 23).[LNB]"If you think in between that what he might have done for us it is quite scary."[LNB]Allardyce added: "I've found the right position for him.[LNB]"We try to keep Dunny off the training ground for certain periods of time when he wants to be on the training round.[LNB]"I tell him it's no good training to get injured. You train to stay fit for selection at a weekend.[LNB]"That might mean spending a little bit more time with the boys in the rehab area or the prevention area with the sport scientists because they've known Dunny for a long period of time and know what he needs.[LNB]"They probably know better than him because he always wants to go out and train and not always is that the right thing to do."[LNB]Dunn scored Blackburn's first goal in yesterday's 2-1 victory over Arsenal as they came from behind to earn a deserved 10th home victory over the campaign.[LNB]Gunners manager Arsene Wenger complained about the tactics which saw Rovers crowd out goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski at free-kicks and corners, leading to both their goals.[LNB]However, Allardyce said he was justified in trying to find a way to level things up against the better clubs - and pointed to his record against the 'big four' at Ewood Park this season.[LNB]Rovers' home form has been what has lifted them to 10th in the table.[LNB]Prior to the Arsenal victory they had drawn with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool and beaten Aston Villa, taking 36 points from a possible 57.[LNB]"We don't always play to shut the opposition down as much as we did against Arsenal but it worked," said the Rovers boss.[LNB]"It worked against United, Chelsea and Liverpool where we got draws. Can you argue against those tactics?"
