Big Sam slams long-ball jibe

SAM ALLARDYCE has taken a swipe at Carlo Ancelotti for becoming the latest big-name coach to belittle Blackburn.

Chelsea manager Ancelotti accused his side of playing a long-ball game during the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, a result that damaged the Blues’ title aspirations.

“The performance in the second half, irrespective of what Ancelotti said that we played long and all that rubbish again, shows we have another top coach who is unable and unwilling to give us the credit we deserved, which is a bit of a shame,” said Allardyce.

“There’s no doubt I have this tag, but just because it has followed me – which as I’ve always said is a perception not a reality anyway – it shouldn’t apply to my players.

“Ancelotti is a big man in the world of football, but for me he has come down in my estimation after listening to his interview on Sunday.”

Victory tonight against Birmingham will lift Rovers 14 points clear of the bottom three.

Allardyce, though, is set to be without goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), captain Ryan Nelsen (knee), Gael Givet (groin), Lars Jacobsen (hernia) and Vince Grella (calf).

For his part, Alex McLeish has challenged Birmingham’s defence to recover their resilience and ensure the team’s season does not fizzle out.

Birmingham have built their surprise success in the Premier League on the form of centre-backs Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, who have made the step-up from the Championship after previously starring for Cardiff and Coventry respectively.

But McLeish’s team have started to leak goals and have managed only one clean sheet in the last 11 league and cup matches.

McLeish said: “

“We’ve got to get to that strong resilience at the back that has served us so well for virtually this entire season,” said McLeish.