Allardyce shocked by surrender

Sam Allardyce was at a loss to explain Blackburn's late two-goal surrender to north-west rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

Second-half substitute Daniel Sturridge and record-buy Robinho scored at the death to seal a dramatic 2-2 draw at Ewood Park and spare former manager Mark Hughes' blushes on his return to his old club.

Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts had given Rovers what looked like an unassailable advantage and Allardyce was seething that his players had not held on.

"It feels like a defeat," he said.

"I didn't expect that. I expected us to withstand the pressure because we had defended so well before then."