Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce admits he was expecting more from his big-name players this season.

After their 2-2 draw with Sunderland, Allardyce says his side have not hit top form regularly enough - and reckons stars including Morten Gamst Pedersen, El Hadji Diouf and Benni McCarthy are the main culprits.

Allardyce said: "Pedersen? We want to keep him playing like he did in the second half. Too many players have not lived up to their reputation regularly enough.

"I have had to change the side recently because too many players have not hit their form. I expected us to push on after the first 10 games. I felt by this stage we should have more points. Performances have been spasmodic. That is sometimes Morten, Benni, Dioufy."