Source: SKY_Sports
Sam doesn't regret changes
lackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has defended his decision to field a much-altered side in the FA Cup.[LNB] Allardyce made 11 changes from the team narrowly beaten by Manchester United last weekend for Tuesday night's fifth-round replay at Coventry City.[LNB]And the Rovers chief paid the price as a Leon Best goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat and earned their Championship opponents a quarter-final meeting with Chelsea.[LNB]Allardyce, though, is adamant he was right to look at the bigger picture as he aims to avoid relegation ahead of a run of four league games in 13 days against Hull City, Everton, Fulham and Arsenal.[LNB]He said: "If we had beaten Coventry, we would have had a run of Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday games over the next fortnight with the Chelsea cup game in the middle.[LNB]Priorities"One group of 11 players cannot start and finish all those games in such a short time. Hence you've got to play your squad players when the opportunity comes around.[LNB]"Playing them in the cup and falling foul of the result is much easier to take than playing them in the Premier League and losing three points.[LNB]"Do I regret the changes? I have to think ahead. I have to be the man who looks at each individual game but then what is beyond that and then look at the position you are in in the Premier League.[LNB]"With the games that are now coming up for us, three points in the Premier League is much more important than a win against Coventry.[LNB]"The Hull game becomes one of our crucial games in the run-in. You have to think ahead."[LNB]
