BLACKBURN Rovers strikers have been told ‘score the goals and you will play’ as Sam Allardyce makes no excuses for rotating his forward line this season.
Jason Roberts earlier this week revealed his frustration at a stop-start campaign but the Rovers boss insists a lack of collective goals has left him with no choice but to ‘chop and change’.
Roberts, Nikola Kalinic and Franco Di Santo have all played as Rovers’ lone target man but a lack of goals has left Allardyce frustrated.
Roberts will be hoping his stunning strike against Everton last time out has earned him a start for this afternoon’s trip to Wolves with his manager insisting his rotation has been down to goals.
Allardyce said: “It is always good to see a player hungry to get in the side. Most of our strikers we have rotated and they have all done well but not come up with the goals they should have done.
“We still have David Dunn as top scorer in the league with seven goals and he has only played 50 per cent of the games. The front men have all had numerous opportunities to get on the score sheet and secure their places longer than they have.
“There is nothing more I would like than to pick a striker every week and hoping we get him into double figures. Jason hit the target Saturday and that got us back in the game.”
Wolves know a win this afternoon will mathematically secure their own Premier League status, while Rovers are looking for a third away win to boost their bid for a top 10 finish.
Born in Dudley, Allardyce admits he grew up a Wolves fan and reveals it was those days that started his ‘professional dream’.
“I was a Wolves fan when I was a boy, I trained there as a youngster as well but didn’t get signed on,” he said.
“I haven’t lost my affection for watching the team that made me want to be a professional footballer. I remember standing on the not bank.
“Those days really made me want to become what I am now.
“All credit to them for the efforts they have put in this year.
"The first year is always the hardest and it is has been a great year for Mick McCarthy and his team.”
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