Big Sam looks to bring the fun back to gloomy Rovers

NEW Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce hopes to bring back the fun factor for his beleaguered players after 11 Barclays Premier League matches without victory.

The 51-year-old takes charge for the first time today at home to Stoke, having had one and a half training sessions to get to know the squad. But even in that time it has been obvious to Allardyce they are short on confidence having lost the last six league matches in a row — a sequence which led to the dismissal of Paul Ince on Tuesday.

The Rovers boss was famed for his man-management in his eight-year spell at near-neighbours Bolton and he hopes to be able to work the same magic at a club lying in 19th place.