A VICTORY over Wigan Athletic tonight could take Blackburn Rovers into the top half of the Premier League - leaving all talk of crisis and panic a thing of the past at Ewood.

“We have had controversy thrown at us,” said Sam Allardyce.

“We have had a particularly disruptive little piece in the Daily Mirror, where I have two games left to save the job.

"Then Sky Sports break that West Ham want Benni McCarthy the day before a semi final second leg.

“Now we have a lad who walks away and says he wants to move on. It is not unusual for today’s game.

"The uglier side of what happens gets portrayed in today’s media and you just can’t let it disrupt your focus and upset or disturb what the important things are.

“I think we have a big opportunity in the next few games to make a big push in the Premier League and it would be nice if we went on a undefeated run with not too many draws.”