Sam Allardyce has warned his Blackburn stars they have put their
Carling Cup semi-final places at risk with their poor display at
Eastlands.
Manchester City - inspired by Carlos Tevez - recorded a 4-1
win and extended Rovers' run without a Premier League victory to
nine matches, which leaves them just three points above the
relegation zone, having played more matches than all the teams
around them.
It was the worst possible preparation for Thursday's Carling
Cup first-leg showdown with Aston Villa at Ewood Park. So bad, in
fact, that Allardyce is sharpening his axe.
"It is no excuse that we had the semi-final on Thursday," he
said. "Playing well in one game guarantees you a place in the next
one.
"Not playing well puts your semi-final place under threat and
that was a bad night.
"Thursday is a great game, it is a massive opportunity to get
to Wembley and some of the players have jeopardised their position
to play in the best game they have had for many years."
The problem for Allardyce is that his fringe players hardly
covered themselves in glory at Villa in the FA Cup. Only Jason
Roberts (knee) and Benni McCarthy (back), who is angling after a
January move, missed out through injury last night, which leaves
Allardyce with a major selection headache knowing a positive result
is essential to take into next week's second leg at Villa Park.
"The disappointing thing is that I wanted a hard job picking
a team? "Unfortunately the team hasn't played to its best and it
has left me opportunities to make changes wherever I feel like it."
Having come so close to reaching Wembley, Allardyce does not
want to give up the opportunity now. However, he is also acutely
aware of the dangers lying in wait if Rovers get sucked into a
prolonged scrap for survival.
While he could have no complaints at last night's outcome
given the gulf in class between the two sides, it just highlights
the disappointments Blackburn have suffered in recent times.
"It is a big concern," he said. "That is five draws and four
defeats now when, so easily, three of those draws could have been
victories.
"That is the killer for us. We are running perilously close
to the bottom three.
"It is not where we want to be and it is not where we should
be.
"Unfortunately, 21 games in, we are."
