Brown aiming to cut down Big Sam

01 March 2009 08:50
The pair go head to head at the KC Stadium as Brown's Hull side tackle Allardyce's Blackburn in a crucial Premier League encounter.[LNB]Brown learned his managerial trade under Allardyce, first on his backroom staff at Blackpool and then as his number two in a successful six-year spell at Bolton.[LNB]The 49-year-old was coming towards the end of his playing career at Blackpool when his manager Allardyce asked him to help out behind the scenes and he remembers the moment well.[LNB]"He phoned me one Thursday evening," Brown said. "I'll never forget it, I was playing snooker in a working men's club.[LNB]"First, he told me I was fined because it was two days before a game but then he said, 'meet me in the Sweet Pea Tavern in Bolton'.[LNB]"I went in there and he said he'd like me to come on board as a coach.[LNB]"We talked and we talked and he said never under-estimate the offer of getting your foot on the ladder.[LNB]"He offered me about 25% of the wages I was on to take up a coaching position.[LNB]"So I went home and talked to the missus. I took the position and the rest is history."[LNB]Brown was hugely impressed by Allardyce and makes no secret of the debt of gratitude he owes his mentor.[LNB]The pair also remain firm friends but Brown accepts there can be no place for sentiment at the KC Stadium on Saturday.[LNB]Hull have slipped into relegation danger after a run of one win in 17 league games while Blackburn's predicament, six points worse off and in the bottom three, is even more precarious.[LNB]Brown said: "There is a lot more pressure on Blackburn because of the position they are in.[LNB]"Sam has got them stabilised in terms of results but they are still in the bottom three.[LNB]"It would be a massive step for us to put nine points between us and the bottom three.[LNB]"We will have a beer after the game, regardless. There are a lot of people there I have a lot of time for, but 90 minutes is not the time."[LNB]Allardyce, who took charge at Ewood Park in December, has a side Brown rates highly.[LNB]A year ago they were pushing for a European place and Brown is sure Allardyce will soon have them back at that level.[LNB]He added: "He would have written off Manchester United last week but 60-65 minutes into the game he was giving them the biggest shock of their lives.[LNB]"Given the level of the squad he has inherited, and given a successful survival campaign this year, he will take them to that level where Mark Hughes left off."[LNB]Hull have a doubt over captain Ian Ashbee for the game due to a calf problem.[LNB]Ashbee missed Thursday's 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the FA Cup fifth round and will not be risked unduly with a game against Fulham coming up on Wednesday.[LNB]Dean Marney could retain the skipper's armband in his absence and the former Tottenham midfielder said: "It's been good (to lead the side), although obviously it's important to get players back from injury like the captain.[LNB]"The cup win was a big lift, it was important to win and get into the next round. It's great for everybody.[LNB]"We're looking forward to tomorrow now and what is a massive game for us, and a massive game for both teams, but one we can definitely win."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk