Goals from Nikola Kalinic, Jason Roberts and Gael Givet secured a well-deserved 3-0 success against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
But it was the makeshift central defensive partnership between Givet and midfielder Keith Andrews which provided the platform. In the absence of the suspended Chris Samba, Givet has switched to centre-half with Martin Olsson coming in at left-back.
The Swede scored and took the sponsors’ man of the match award in last week’s win over Hull City, a double emulated by Givet against Wanderers.
But the real test came when Rovers also lost captain Ryan Nelsen to injury five minutes before half-time.
bit worried
And Allardyce admitted: “Keith Andrews dropping in there was a big decision for us.
“Keith dropped in anyway while Ryan came off and then (goalkeeping coach) Bobby Mimms said ‘he’s played a couple of games for Wolves in central defence’.
“We wanted to keep Steven Nzonzi in the front end of the defence to try and win the balls as they were played up to the front two and (Andrews) and Gael did ever so well against the threat of (Johan) Elmander and (Kevin) Davies.
“Having had the loss of Samba and then Ryan I was a bit worried and concerned but they did a tremendous job – another clean sheet.
“We’ve had eight clean sheets in 17 games now and that’s the basis of why we’re sitting in a mid-table position, because the goals have been a struggle for most of the season – but when you get that clean sheet it means when you get one goal you win three points.”
“When you get that clean sheet it means when you get one goal you win three points” – Sam Allardyce
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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