SAM Allardyce is ready to spend more time master-minding Rovers’ climb up the Premier League from the stands as his faith in his side’s ability to ‘match the best’ continues to grow.

Rovers’ boss returned to action for Saturday’s impressive goalless draw with Liverpool at Ewood Park, having missed the last four matches due to heart surgery, but spent the entire 90 minutes away from the touchline.

Allardyce has been advised to keep out of the dug-out for the next two or three weeks - until he receives the all-clear from his specialist – but he admits his place alongside chairman John Williams could become more long-term.

Allardyce has always watched the first 45 minutes of Rovers’ games from the stands but, as he recovers from his recent angioplasty, he stayed there throughout his side’s battling draw with Liverpool.

Nikola Kalinic, Benni McCarthy and Franco Di Santo all missed glorious chances to make their manager’s return even more special but he was delighted to extend their unbeaten home run to eight nine matches – losing just twice in 23 games in charge at Ewood.

Allardyce said: “I always sit in the stand in the first half and I would like to sit in the stand more of the time if I could. I think you can make a better call from there.

“I have been up there a few times. The way the team is playing I can stay up there at the moment.

“The last year or two at Bolton, I went up there for most of the game.

"Once you get settled in and your team gets better and better, the more calmer you can stay for what might be a critical decision coming late in the game.

“I think I will mix it between the two. I have got two to three weeks sitting up there, see the specialist again, he will probably give me the all-clear and then I will make the decision on a game to game basis.”

Allardyce also insists the stress associated to managing a Premier League side is not a concern, despite undergoing heart surgery, claiming the burden has eased over the years.

Saturday’s point sees Rovers sitting in 12th in the Premier League, one point and place above East Lancashire rivals Burnley, with Allardyce full of confidence in his charges.

“I think I have been calmer for a few years than in my early years in the Premier League,” he said.

“Scrimping and scraping trying to keep your side up is a traumatic period you go through because every game you try and shift the furniture to stop the opposition players who are better than yours.

“Now, we are getting to the stage here where we are saying we are a good match for anyone we play, especially at Ewood Park, and that gives you more comfort when you start a game that we are a match for anyone.

“We were a match for Liverpool and Chelsea over the last week and in my entire time here we have only had two defeats in nearly 12 months and 23 matches. That is a terrific record and one we must cherish and keep for as long as possible.”