Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce admits he's been chasing Tottenham striker Peter Crouch his entire managerial career.

Crouch struck in Spurs' victory at Ewood Park on Saturday.

And Allardyce lamented: "I remember coming up against him at Bolton when we were in the second tier in 1999, playing QPR away.

"He was up against Colin Hendry, we were up near the top of the table at the time and he was outstanding.

"I wanted the chairman at Bolton to buy him for £1 million. I then wanted the chairman at Bolton to buy him for £2.5 million from Villa before he went to Southampton and I was told we didn't have the money.

"I think a player of his size and frame needs to get into his late twenties to develop fully. Because he is big, people think he should be strong but that doesn't naturally happen with someone who has a frame like him."