Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Sam Allardyce will steer Blackburn Rovers to Premiership survival. Rovers are still just one point from the foot of the table but Ferguson, though, believes Allardyce is the right man for the job.
"I am sure Sam will keep them up," the Scot said. "It is not easy down there. After the New Year, very seldom does a team gather the points they think.
"There are not many examples, West Ham a couple of years ago springs to mind, when a team goes on a long run. But that was unusual.
"Normally it is a point, or a point and a half per game at the most."
The United boss believes that with so many clubs involved in the relegation battle this term a minimum of 43 points may be required to avoid the drop.
"It is tighter than ever," he said. "You could say 10 teams are involved. Every time they play you can imagine the pressure on everyone involved.
"Sam is well aware of that but he has the experience to handle it."