Source: Team_Talk
Allardyce: Rovers in relegation dogfight
Sam Allardyce admits that Blackburn have already been dragged into a relegation fight even though it is only the start of November.[LNB] Rovers are currently third-from-bottom of the Premier League and the Blackburn boss says his side cannot afford any more slip-ups - starting at home to Wigan tomorrow.[LNB]Allardyce believes Blackburn have been guilty of throwing points away unneccessarily in at least two matches this season and says that cannot continue.[LNB]The Blackburn manager said: "We are already dragged in to a relegation scrap because it is very difficult to make up the points that you have dropped, it's hugely difficult to start catching up.[LNB]"For example against Birmingham we should have had three points that day and if we had, then we would be in mid-table.[LNB]"We threw three points away on that day and look where we are now, and we can ill-afford to do that again.[LNB]"In many ways we have thrown a point away last week as we should have had at least a draw against Chelsea and we ended up throwing that away in the last four minutes."[LNB]In recent years Ewood Park has been the mainstay of Blackburn's enduring presence in the Premier League, but their usually excellent home form has deserted them so far this season.[LNB]Allardyce admitted: "Our home record is the reason - in terms of results rather than performance - that we are where we are.[LNB]"It's the most disappointing [home] run since I have been here. Five games, only one win, two draws and two defeats - we only had three defeats at home in the entire last season.[LNB]"On the level of performance we are in a false position in the table but one we have to accept is our own fault.[LNB]"Home form and a clean-sheet mentality is deserting us. If we put that right starting tomorrow then we will start moving up the league again."[LNB]Allardyce conceded that the home fans' loyality deserved more from the players.[LNB]He said: "I look at other dwindling attendances throughout the Premier League and look at ours and still see a very consistent attendance in the mid-20s. For a club like ours with a population we have got it shows a great affinity with the fans - now we have to repay them."[LNB]El Hadji Diouf and Martin Olsson are doubts against Wigan after both picked up knocks in training and will have fitness tests before the game.[LNB]Gael Givet and Benjani, who suffered minor injuries in the defeat by Chelsea, are in contention however.
