Allardyce desperate to keep Pedersen

Sam Allardyce is hoping Blackburn's top-half finish will convince Morten Gamst Pedersen to stay at Ewood Park. The Norwegian winger is out of contract this summer and a number of sides from around Europe are thought to be interested in him.The 28-year-old came off the bench on Sunday to help Rovers follow up their 2-1 win over Arsenal with a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa.That rounded off a run of just one defeat in their last nine league games and secured a 10th-placed finish for Rovers.And Allardyce is hoping the feel-good factor amongst his squad is enough to persuade Pedersen to extend his six-year stay with Blackburn.Asked if there were any contract developments, the former Bolton boss said: "No, I don't know yet. We are still keeping our fingers crossed."Hopefully the last two results will go some way to sort it out in our favour and he won't go anywhere else."I've just been in a great dressing room," Allardyce added. "It borders, for me, on the time that I had at Bolton - it feels that good."There is a lot to be said for that feeling. It doesn't come around too often and I never felt that I would get that type of unity and team spirit within 18 months, given all the changes we have had."Pedersen joined Blackburn from Tromso in 2004 and has gone on to make 241 appearances for the club, scoring 38 goals.Allardyce took charge at Ewood Park following the sacking of Paul Ince in December 2008 and steered Rovers to a 15th-placed finish last season before coming 10th this term.

Source: Team_Talk