Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce was beaming after victory over Portsmouth guaranteed Premiership safety for another season.

He said: "We have chalked up 27 points from 19 games - that's half a season - since I have been here. That shows you how well we have done as we had taken only 13 points from the previous 17.

"The players have been magnificent. They are committed and want to play in the best league in the world. What I did when I came in was use my man-management skills, if you like. You assess the situation and try and understand what the players are feeling.

"It is important to try and nullify any fears they may have and get them playing to the best of their ability. I have not been as worried as I thought as the players have done their best. There was never any great anxiety on my part that we would go down.

"Their efforts have been rewarded as we are now on the magic 40-point mark after our third home win on the trot."

Allardyce's former club Newcastle are still in trouble - they face fellow strugglers Middlesbrough on Monday.

However Allardyce insists his focus is on Blackburn.

He said: "My life goes on. I do not worry too much about what happened in the past. I look to the future.

"I want to be a Premier League manager - and that's what I am - but when I came here it was a difficult job."