Source: Team_Talk
Allardyce sees positives in defeat
Sam Allardyce paid tribute to Jon Walters despite seeing the Stoke striker score the goal that condemned his Blackburn side to defeat.[LNB] Stoke's summer signing scored his first Premier League goal for the club by finding the target in the 47th minute.[LNB]Walters, 27, a £2.75million buy from Ipswich, started out at Bolton - he was at Blackburn in his youth - when Allardyce was in charge.[LNB]Despite being angry at the way his side had allowed Walters to score in the 1-0 win, Allardyce had nothing but praise for the player.[LNB]Allardyce said: "Jon has done exceptionally well. It is down to his dedication and hard work and maximising his ability that he has finally made it back to the top level.[LNB]"Full marks and all credit to him because it has been a long journey through the lower divisions. You don't often see a young man today going down the leagues and getting back to the very top level.[LNB]"Obviously I am gutted he scored today because it has won them the game. That's the most frustrating thing for me, the way we conceded it.[LNB]"You don't often see our central defenders messing it up like that to let a nothing situation develop into a goalscoring situation. Bog-standard, basic defending has let us down."[LNB]Stoke manager Tony Pulis is pleased at the way Walters has settled in at the Britannia Stadium after moving up a division.[LNB]It was a clinical finish as well after he was released by Matthew Etherington following a towering flick-on from Kenwyne Jones.[LNB]Pulis said: "Walters is a fantastic pro who has been taken in by the rest of the players because of his effort and commitment.[LNB]"I am really pleased to see him score because it is a reward for everything he has done.[LNB]"He has has been marvellous since we signed him. It shows there are players out there that, given the opportunity, can come to the table and score."[LNB]Stoke have now secured back-to-back victories after beating Newcastle on Sunday - and have shot up the table in the process.[LNB]Pulis said: "Our position is different to a couple of weeks ago when we were bottom. We have learned in this league you have runs of games where you don't pick points up and runs where we do.[LNB]"We have better players on the pitch now, hopefully we can continue the progress we are making.[LNB]"We are pleased. It is an important result., Back-to-back wins are difficult to come across in the Premier League. We played some good stuff at times and created one or two chances and openings.[LNB]"It is just disappointing we were not a bit more clinical. Late on they put us under pressure and you are always worried the ball will drop and end up in your net."[LNB]Blackburn failed to test goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen so Allardyce's decision to take El-Hadji Diouf off in the second half seemed a curious one.[LNB]However Allardyce explained: "I didn't want Howard Webb to send him off as he had already got one yellow card.[LNB]"I thought I would take him off for his own safety. He was getting frustrated."
