Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is pleased to have held onto striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The Blackburn striker was a £20million target for former boss Mark Hughes at Manchester City but Big Sam says he refused to let the star leave.

The Rovers chief said: "More often than not the player gets his own way. But in the position we are in it was impossible to agree, so we stood firm.

"Myself and chairman John Williams worked so hard in this window to make sure we resisted any bids."

Rovers are 18th in the Premier League but have not lost in Allardyce's six league games in charge.