Big Sam eyes unbeaten run-in

Sam Allardyce has challenged his Blackburn side to remain unbeaten for the remainder of the season in a bid to ensure their top flight status. Rovers currently sit one place above the relegation zone and three points ahead of Middlesbrough in 18th place. The Blackburn boss saw his side slip closer to the bottom three on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at Stoke thanks to a solitary strike from Liam Lawrence. Following the result the former Bolton and Newcastle manager believes his side must avoid defeat in their final five games against Wigan, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Chelsea and West Brom if they are to guarantee survival. "It is a difficult situation to be in but we are outside of the bottom three and we are in the best position we have been since I took over," he said. "When I took over we had 13 points from 17 games and we have had a long, hard battle to get where we have got now and we are still three very valuable points off that bottom three. "Making sure we don't lose another game is key to us now. With five games left, if we don't lose I think we will be okay. "There is only Chelsea that is difficult for us, all the other games I think we can get something out of. Important games "We have three very important home games, Wigan, Portsmouth and West Brom but we don't want to go to the last game, we want to secure our Premier League status as soon as possible." Allardyce is quick to emphasise that his players need to put the Potters defeat behind them and use the pressure which now engulfs the sides at the bottom of the league in a positive way. "It was a disappointing day for us at Stoke but one we have to put behind us and get ready for Wigan next week," he added. "You have to deal with the pressure it brings and as a manager you have to take the pressure off the players as much as you can. "I hope the players are ready for it. "I can guide them in the right way but they have got to be the ones that withstand the pressure when it comes, absorb it and use it in a positive way to produce the best performances."

Source: SKY_Sports