A JUBILANT Sam Allardyce declared ‘our patience has paid off’ after Blackburn Rovers’ £6million man Nikola Kalinic broke his Premier League duck to fire them to 11th in the table.

The former Hadjuk Split man struck in the 76th minute to earn Rovers a crucial 2-1 home win over Wigan Athletic – just seconds before he was about to replaced by Chelsea loanee Franco Di Santo.

The Rovers boss insisted he has to be cautious about Kalinic’s development, handing him just two previous Premier League starts, but pointed to last night’s pivotal intervention as proof he has been handled right.

Morten Gamst Pedersen opened the scoring for the hosts last night with a stunning first half volley but, after Gary Caldwell bundled home a headed equaliser, it was left to Kalinic to step in as the match winner – to add to his five cup goals this season.

Allardyce said: “We did not want to rush him into the Premier League because it is a massive step and the front line is the hardest place to play.

“We have fed him in as slowly as we possibly could. We have not listened to all the moaners wanting him to play straight away.

“We stayed patient, more patiently than we needed at times, because we weren’t quite getting the results we wanted to.

"We still didn’t put him in because we knew he wasn’t quite ready.

"I think it is finally beginning to show it is paying off.

“It is good competition up there, Jason Roberts, Franco Di Santo, David Dunn, Niko.”

Rovers travel to West Ham on Saturday, with a comfortable seven-point gap between them and the relegation zone, knowing the next few weeks could move them to virtual safety.

Allardyce said: “Morten’s first goal was terrific, we have created really good chances and have won the game comfortably, which at times got a bit scrappy.

"It is bound to get like that at this stage of the season and the condition of the pitch.

“A great battling performance and what a difference back to back wins makes.

"It shoots us up to 11th and we have started 2010 really well. Lets keep it going at West Ham.

“I am pleased with the result and pleased with how we are looking.”