Sam Allardyce says it is unfair to call his players 'long ball'

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce says Carlo Ancelotti's claims that Rovers played 'long balls' against his Chelsea team in Sunday's 1-1 draw are "rubbish".

Speaking after the visitors conceded a second-half equaliser at Ewood Park, Ancelotti said: "They put us under more pressure, they put more long balls."

Allardyce told BBC Radio Lancashire: "He's come down in my estimation in listening to that interview on Sunday.

"We've got another top coach unable and unwilling to give us the credit."

He added: "Irrespective of what Ancelotti said - that we played long and all that rubbish - it was a fantastic result and a great performance in the second-half with some good football played."

It is not the first time the Blackburn manager has felt the need to defend himself from criticism over his team's playing style and was often labelled 'long-ball' at previous clubs Bolton and Newcastle.

"You shouldn't tag the Blackburn players with the tag which has followed me, which is a perception not a reality anyway," he said.

Irrespective of what Ancelotti said - that we played long and all that rubbish - it was a fantastic result Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce

"When you're one of the smaller clubs and you get a big result against one of the big boys then you very rarely get the praise you deserve particularly it seems from the the coach you're competing against.

"It's to cover themselves and cover their own deficiencies in the main, because your team has done better than theirs on that particular day and because it shouldn't have done - they need to find some excuse to divert the attention away from themselves."

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