Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson thanked Sam Allardyce after Blackburn Rovers took two points off Chelsea on Sunday.

Big Sam has revealed his pal Fergie texted him to say "well done" after Blackburn's draw.

Allardyce said: "I've had a message from Alex saying 'well done, looks like the injuries didn't bother you too much'.

"I'd told him before I was concerned because of some of the players we were missing - our England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, our captain Ryan Nelsen, Vince Grella, who is off to the World Cup, and Gael Givet, a former France international.

"None of them were available and they are bigger misses for us than Chelsea missing Essien and Cole. We managed to cope with it and get a deserved draw out of the match."