Source: Daily_Mail
Big Sam calls on Blackburn to score more as Rovers' boss fears for survival
Sam Allardyce admits he is worried by Blackburn's league position at the midway point of the season. [LNB]Rovers travel to Manchester City on Monday night lying 13th in the Barclays Premier League table but just three points away from the relegation zone. [LNB]Blackburn have overcome defensive problems early in the campaign which saw them beaten 6-2 at Arsenal and 5-0 at Chelsea, but it is the team's poor goal return which has emerged as a bigger concern. [LNB] Allardyce worry: Blackburn are just three points above the drop-zone [LNB] Allardyce's side are without a league win since November andalthough he has been generally satisfied with their level ofperformance, the manager accepts his players must start hitting theback of the net to pull themselves away from trouble. [LNB] 'It's a big worry because I didn't think it would be this closefrom our point of view, based on our performances over the last 20games,' Allardyce said. [LNB]Big Sam: Blackburn manager Allardyce[LNB][LNB]'But unfortunately we haven't scored enough goals - there are 10games this year that we haven't scored in. That shows you our problemreally. [LNB]'We have not done so bad really, clean sheet-wise - we have got fourin the last 10 (league) games having had a particularly poor run in thefirst 10. [LNB] 'We seem to have put that right a little bit but not got enoughgoals to clinch more victories, so instead of winning five in the last10, we have only won two and drawn five, and that's the massivedifference that you then get in the league situation. [LNB]'We must put that right. We haven't won in eight and it's very closeto being very good, but unfortunately draws are not enough. [LNB]'We need to get some wins and we need to get them very quickly. Thatis going to be very difficult at Manchester City but not impossible, soa positive result is what we will look for.'[LNB]City go into the match off the back of three wins and three cleansheets since Roberto Mancini took over as manager, and Allardycebelieves the Italian has made a point of tightening up the team's backline. [LNB] Three is the magic number: Mancini has won his first three games in charge [LNB][LNB]'I think they are probably a little more defensive,' Allardyce said. [LNB]'I think he has had a look and thought even though they have onlylost two (matches all season), they have drawn so many games becausethey haven't managed to keep the clean sheet. [LNB]'If they had done that they would have won more games rather thandrawn them, where it's the opposite for us - we've not scored enough. [LNB] 'They have always managed to score with the talent they have gotbut they have been a little open and lost some very important leads toend up drawing. I think he's put that right.' [LNB] Blackburn offload winger Van Heerden to Turkish club SivassporMan City v BLACKBURN: Brett Emerton to return for City testBlackburn's Benni McCarthy is ready to solve Everton's striker crisisBLACKBURN ROVERS FC
