Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Sam Allardyce will keep Blackburn Rovers in the Premiership.

"I am sure Sam will keep them up," the Scot said. "It is not easy down there. After the New Year, very seldom does a team gather the points they think.

"There are not many examples, West Ham a couple of years ago springs to mind, when a team goes on a long run. But that was unusual.

"Normally it is a point, or a point and a half per game at the most."