SAM Allardyce insists Rovers’ “formidable game-changing” options could prove key in their bid to ensure Premier League survival.

The Rovers boss believes the introduction of David Dunn, Vince Grella and Roque Santa Cruz after the break was pivotal in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Newcastle.

An impressive second-half showing from Allardyce’s men lifted them out of the drop zone for the first time for two months and he believes a real battle for places could prove pivotal.

Manchester City will renew their chase for Santa Cruz this week but, as the transfer window runs its course, Allardyce revealed his desire to keep his squad together.

He said: “The substitutions gave us a massive boost. We had game-changing players who could come off the bench and I think that is what happened.

“David Dunn, Vince Grella have come off the bench and allowed us to get better as we have gone on and given opportunities for players to score goals and we took advantage of that.

“Formidable options in terms of changing a game. It is looking good with the squad being fit and the results we are picking up.

“With players like that coming on, they were players who started opening up Newcastle more and more. They were fresh players and skilful players and certainly showed their abilities in the time they were on.

“It is not just about 11, it is about 20 players. To have a strong bench, you will hear lots and lots of managers talking about it, is so important.

“When you are in difficulty, like we were in difficulty in the first half, I could turn round and see players who could change the game in our favour and that happened today.”

Jason Roberts’ brace and Benni McCarthy’s penalty made it five games unbeaten for Allardyce at the start of his Rovers regime as they increased Newcastle’s relegation fears.

But, for 45 minutes, the visitors looked in control of the clash, with Allardyce hailing his defenders for keeping the Magpies at bay.

Allardyce said: “I would have to say I didn’t see that coming after half time because we played very poorly for us at home and we had some sorting out to do.

“The one thing the players did do, though, was make sure they kept hold of the defensive qualities to make sure we stayed in the game and at that stage it was all Newcastle.

“I didn’t get stuck into them at half time. I just said we have worked all week on how to break down a Newcastle side. That just didn’t happen in the first half.”

Rovers’ dreadful start to the season was largely down to sloppy defending but, since Allardyce’s arrival, Ryan Nelsen and co have enjoyed a new lease of life.

Now with four clean sheets out of five, Rovers are looking increasingly like the solid outfit they were under Mark Hughes’ Ewood Park reign.

Allardyce said: “Every time we got the ball in the first half, we gave it away so the key to today’s win was the consistent performances of the defenders for the 95 minutes.

“They were the ones who kept us in it and in the second half the midfield players eventually started giving the service to the front men, the wide men came into the game and the substitutes made a difference when we put them on.

“We had to put our bodies on the line to defend the situation. I am just glad today our defenders defended that well.”