Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has offered support to his former Bolton Wanderers No2 Phil Brown.

Brown is under huge pressure at Hull City and Allardyce is disappointed with the speculation.

"Sympathy is an understatement. He is finding the full force of the negative side of the media at the moment. He is getting the full bore," said Allardyce.

"I listened to Sky Sports News yesterday and there wasn't one question on the match against Burnley.

"It is not surprising, but he is not the man to answer it, is he?

"The owner is the man who should have stood up there and answered the questions.

"Phil is under pressure to get football results, that is what he is paid to do.

"We are all skin and blood and have feelings. We are thick skinned, we do wear the rhino skin. I have told him to get the elephant skin on top of his rhino skin. It is a bit cutting at the moment and a bit deep.

"But he can't let it affect his judgement. His staff have got to rally behind him and keep a clear head and focus on the job."