Blackburn Rovers have no worries, says Benni McCarthy

2:11pm Sunday 4th January 2009

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BENNI McCarthy insists Rovers will enter 2009 without the ‘worry factor’ after backing boss Sam Allardyce to inspire a Premier League great escape.

Rovers’ South African has enjoyed a new lease of life under Allardyce, scoring three goals in as many games, and has revealed the former Bolton man’s arrival has already had a galvanising effect.

Paul Ince’s troubled Ewood Park reign saw the East Lancashire outfit toil to an 11-match winless run and deep into the relegation mire but, despite their lowly position, McCarthy insists there is now nothing to worry about.

Allardyce’s era has started with five points from three games and, despite knowing their tally should have been better, a revitalised McCarthy has been buoyed by a change in mood.

He said: “It’s frustrating when you don’t get the three points, like we didn’t against Manchester City, but it’s very satisfying to see where we have come from since Sam Allardyce took over.

“Because of all the things that have happened since the manager arrived, the worry factor is over for us. We now know that if we keep playing the way we are playing, then we will get out of the mess that we are in.

“I don’t think there is even a little bit of worry in the dressing-room any more because we know we have now played to our true potential and we know we can score goals again.

“We have to be confident because of the way we play now, the way we are starting to be organised and the shape that the team has taken.

“We have got five points from three games when we could actually have got nine points.”

A mixture of injury, lack of fitness and not being in favour with Ince saw McCarthy struggle in the early part of this campaign with just two goals in 10 Premier League appearances, albeit just four starts.

Three goals in the last three games have shot him to the top of Rovers’ scoring charts though and he is confident better times are ahead under Big Sam’s control.

He said: “It’s just about giving you a chance really. We do different training and the emphasis is more on strikers working with each other, practising our finishing with crosses coming in.

“That’s what strikers do best, playing against keepers and doing loads of finishing. “That’s brilliant for us because that’s what we want.

“That’s why we come into work, to practise our finishing and improve our goal scoring ability.

“But the fact that Roque has been injured has opened the door for me and Jason Roberts.

“And luckily for us, we have both taken our chances and we just want to make the most of every opportunity we get.

“Once you start playing and your confidence comes back, the easy part of the game comes back and you just start enjoying your football again.”