SAM Allardyce believes his Rovers side have shown the right reaction after last month's cup heartache.

The Rovers boss feared that following on from their Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa that a dip in form could derail their league campaign, but he has been delighted with the response.

"I think that we've overcome that semi-final defeat well," said Sam. "I thought that the way the game went and how unfortunate we were in that game that it might have had a legacy.

"But it has had a positive effect on the players I'm glad to say. It shows you the spirit of the team the fact that they now want to get on and try to improve the results and performances in the Premier League on a regular basis and be in a position where they should be and then better that.

"That is what we want to try and do, we've got fourteen games left, can we go and put an undefeated run together, first to secure our Premier League place and then with the remaining games take as many points as we can and see where that leaves us."

 

Next up for Rovers this Saturday is a tough away trip to the Britannia Stadium to face Tony Pulis' Stoke City, with Allardyce under no illusions of the task ahead.

"Saturday will be a completely different style of game to the one against West Ham," added the Rovers boss.

"We got to combat that style, we've got to be able to cope with it otherwise it will overpower you.

"Then we have to try and use the abilities we've shown, particularly in the second half at West Ham, to put Stoke under pressure.

"And when the whistle blows at the end, if we've got a draw I'll be happy, if we've got a win I'll be delighted.

"What I don't want to be doing at Stoke if we draw is coming off and saying 'that should have been another win', I don't want to be doing that.

"We go there full of confidence at the moment and I'll demand that the players play as good if not better than that second half against West Ham."

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