SAM Allardyce has described Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool as a Premier League bonus – but could not help rueing a missed chance to take maximum return.

Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers matched big-spenders Liverpool throughout and, by the end, had the better chances to break the deadlock and secure the win.

Nikola Kalinic should have been the last-gasp hero after being sent clear on goal by Junior Hoilett in the dying seconds, but he touched the ball wide leaving Rovers having to settle for a point.

Benni McCarthy and Franco Di Santo also missed good chances to secure a famous win for Rovers, while David Ngog’s effort that hit the bar was the closest the uninspiring visitors went.

Allardyce said: “I am delighted with another very important clean sheet.

"I would say in the dressing room though, we are slightly disappointed we didn’t win it in the last minute and get the three points.

“We had a really good afternoon, it could have been better, but in the end it could have been something worse, where the one that hit the bar was the bit of fortune we deserved.

“We had the chances to go in front before they got their chance, which was their first of the game. "Franco went through just after half time and messed it up, Benni has hit one just wide from the edge of the box and then Niko right at the end.

“Apart from that one that hit the bar, I can’t see any other clear cut chances they have had. "Perhaps a header from Steven Gerrard but that is it from Liverpool in total.”

“Niko had the chance, even with all the chances we have missed before that, to get the three points when he has gone through.”

Rovers’ third clean sheet in four Premier League games has lifted them to 12th in the Premier League, a place above Burnley, as they continue to slowly ease their relegation worries.

The point followed hot on the heels of Wednesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final win over Chelsea – leaving Allardyce proud of the fitness levels his side displayed.

He said: “It was a great performance from the players and few opportunities from both sides.

"The defensive side of our game, nullifying them was what we needed to do and then try to adventure on from there.

“That really, really pleased me and three clean sheets in four Premier League games is what is going to win us more games than we draw in the end.

"And certainly stops us losing games and gaining more points.

“In the last 10 minutes, I got a bit agitated on the edge of my seat.

"The game was bound to open up after the effort we put in, not just in this game but in 120 minutes against Chelsea as well. I have to say our lads looked extremely fit.

“Liverpool didn’t have a game in midweek and so to match them from a fitness point of view, was really good.

“But it was a good performance and we played some really good stuff.

"What fears I had today later on was we might tire because of the efforts against Chelsea but they were absolutely tremendous in their efforts.”