SAM Allardyce has questioned Blackburn Rovers’ attitude after their habit of throwing away leads returned to dump them out of the Carling Cup at Villa Park.

Rovers looked to be coasting into the fourth round of the Carling Cup when Gael Givet’s 34th minute opener rewarded their dominating first half display.

Emile Heskey’s introduction changed the game though as he inspired a second half comeback from the hosts and leave Rovers boss Allardyce furious at his side’s 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Rovers have now lost leads in four of their seven games so far this season and, with Blackpool up next in the Premier League, Allardyce warns it can’t go on.

He said: “A game lasts 90 minutes, not 45 minutes, It seems to be quite a problem for us the second half.

"We have got in front in most games we have played in and not managed to maintain our lead.

“We can’t find the right determination to hang on to a lead. We have got in front six times out of seven this year and have only won two games.

“It shows you how well we are doing in the first half but then we just capitulate.

"We did it again last night and I have to question the lad’s attitude about coping with a team that is going to change the way they play.”

The much-maligned Heskey silenced the travelling fans with an equaliser a minute after replacing John Carew, with Rovers fan’s left to regret their taunts.

Ashley Young’s near post header somehow squeezed past Mark Bunn on 70 minutes and a minute later the winger sealed the win by converting Heskey’s low cross.

“When you get 1-0 up at half time and are in control of a game the manager is obviously going to do something about it,” said Allardyce.

“Emile Heskey came on and it was something we didn’t cope with.

"We have the players to cope but we didn’t.

“We ended up losing a game 3-1 and we should never have done.

"I am very disappointed with the second half performance.

"We will have to keep working on the defensive side to get the ultimate clean sheet we need.

“We must be more resilient defensively. It is about dealing with the opposition.

"How do you change it? You keep showing and practising week in and week out. It is called repetition.”

It could all have been very different had Brad Guzan not brilliantly kept out Morten Gamst Pedersen’s fierce volley just after the break – but Allardyce was not about to make any excuses.

“It was a terrific goal from Gael Givet and the critical moment was great save from Guzan after half time,” said Allardyce.

“They played more off the front two after the break and rushed down on us and stopped us being as comfortable on the ball as we were in the first half.

“You have to cope with that and you have to deal with that and change the way you play so you don’t allow them to start dominating the game. We didn’t.”