Morten Gamst Pedersen credits Blackburn Rovers' climb away from the dropzone to the arrival of manager Sam Allardyce.

He admitted: "We were in big trouble before the gaffer arrived.

"We had become used to operating in the top half of the league before this season but he impressed upon us the need to play a bit ugly at times to get the results we needed.

"He has done a really good job since he arrived."