Pompey win crucial - Sam

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce says the game against Portsmouth is crucial and one they must win following a tough month in October.

Rovers faced Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all away from home and after suffering three defeats, conceding 13 goals in the process, Allardyce is relieved the games are now out of the way.

The Rovers boss is now targeting a surge up the Premier League table starting with three points against Pompey, who themselves banged in four goals against Wigan at the weekend.

"We knew October was going to be a difficult month," Allardyce revealed. "But we got the three points we knew we had to get in our home game against Burnley.

"Now we've got a massive game against Portsmouth to get out of the position we are in. That will be a bigger game for us because it is a winnable one."