Dunn key as Rovers revival begins early

BLACKBURN boss Sam Allardyce singled out midfielder David Dunn as a crucial part of his side’s surge up the Premier League table after their traditional new year revival started early at Ewood Park.

Dunn opened the scoring against Mick McCarthy’s beleaguered Wolves and further strikes from Brett Emerton and Ryan Nelsen helped Rovers wipe the memory of last week’s 7-1 Old Trafford humiliation from their system.

Allardyce said: “David scored nine goals and was a very important part of our success story last year, but it’s about making sure we look after him. When David’s fit he’s very important to the team, not just as a player but as a person.”

Allardyce cut a highly satisfied figure post match as he reflected on his side’s surge into the top half of the table with their fourth win in six — unusual for a Rovers side who usually save their revival until after the busy festive period is over.

Victory did not come entirely smoothly with Paul Robinson having to produce a series of fine saves and both Stephen Ward and Ronald Zubar rattling the woodwork for Wolves in the opening five minutes.

Allardyce added: “It usually doesn’t happen until the back end of the season, which is when the players get most of their time off. At this stage for me it is all about recovery because the games are coming thick and fast.

“The goals have started to come and we’ve balanced them with clean sheets and that’s why we’ve won four games out of six. I just know that I’m getting the maximum out of my players in all areas and that’s why we won 3-0.”

Wolves’ encouraging start was no consolation for McCarthy, who saw his side slip to the bottom of the table on goal difference on Saturday and bemoaned his side’s defending.

McCarthy said: “We started the game well but it’s not down to bad luck – it’s down to bad defending.

“After our great victory last week we were determined to continue with our winning ways but I’m really angry and disappointed with the way we conceded our goals today. It was a bit soft from our point of view.”

The outcome might have been different if Robinson had not saved a first-minute strike from Matt Jarvis then tipped Ward’s fifth-minute effort onto the post before Zubar rattled both bar and post with his follow-up effort.

Allardyce admitted Rovers were nervous in the wake of their mauling by Manchester United but they got their break in the 29th minute when Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner was knocked back by Nelsen for Dunn to head home.

Despite the encouraging form of Jarvis and Kevin Doyle up front for Wolves, Rovers extended their lead in the 42nd minute when Jason Roberts laid off to Emerton who fired home a superb left-foot shot.

Wolves’ chances were effectively ended in the 55th minute when Pedersen’s free-kick found Nelsen who poked home, but the visitors continued to press and forced Robinson into a series of late saves.

Robinson parried a 71st-minute drive from George Elokobi and also saved one-handed from Stephen Hunt, repeating the feat in injury time when he flapped another Hunt effort out for a corner.

For Allardyce, his side’s biggest win of the season was thoroughly deserved and a little surprising given his fears for his attacking options at the start of a campaign which saw them floundering near the drop zone.

“We thought goals this season would be a struggle for us but in the last six games we’ve scored two in four of them, one in one and three in one. We were clinical and professional and I picked an experienced side that did their job.”