Blackburn Rovers FC

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• Manager:Steve Kean

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Santa Cruz stays with Rovers

01 Feb 2009 - 10:20:35

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Sam Allardyce expects striker Roque Santa Cruz to still be a Blackburn Rovers player when the transfer window closes on Monday evening.

The Paraguay international has been the subject of several unsuccessful bids from Manchester City this month but, after playing 90 minutes in Saturday's goalless draw with Middlesbrough, Allardyce believes he has successfully held off the interest in his striker.

"He had a Blackburn shirt on today and he will have one on next week.," claimed the Rovers boss.

Meanwhile, Allardyce admitted he was bitterly disappointed not to leave the Riverside Stadium with all three points after Boro goalkeeper Brad Jones pulled of a string of top-quality saves.

"I am feeling like we have lost here after what we have gone out and done on the field," he claimed.

"To only come away with a point is bitterly disappointing for us. We feel we have thrown the opportunity, yet again, away to win a game of football we should have won.

"We can't find that ruthless edge to secure the three points and we keep throwing away opportunities to win.

"We are on a great undefeated run, but we have had too many draws and it's leaving us in a very difficult position, because other teams are winning and picking up three points and we are left back in that bottom three again.

"We are undefeated in six Premier League games, but from that we should have had at least four wins and two draws - and possibly more - and today should have been one of those wins.

"We are making life extremely hard for ourselves."