CHRIS Samba has hailed Blackburn Rovers’ ‘priceless’ team spirit after helping them to shock the Premier League’s big-spenders on Saturday.

Rovers’ captain marvel led by example with an inspirational defensive display in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City before declaring afterwards ‘money isn’t everything’.

While Sam Allardyce has been restricted to loan signings and free agents in the transfer market this summer, Manchester City have splashed more than £100million on world talent.

Their huge riches though were not enough to see off a resilient Rovers as Allardyce’s men left their hosts frustrated with a show of real character.

Samba said: “You know what is happening at Manchester City with them spending big money and massive wages, but football is more than that, you have to believe that and we have shown today.

“Of course it is normal that to attract the best players they have to pay the big wages but I think the team spirit is something you can’t buy.

“It has been very hard work from the manager to bring the players together and now we are a couple of years together we showed today how important desire is.”

Nikola Kalinic gave Rovers the first half lead after taking advantage of a Joe Hart gift to score his second goal of the season.

Patrick Vieira levelled for City after the break but they were unable to find the winner as Samba & co continuously put their bodies on the line.

“We have been together a couple of years and we know the qualities we all have,” said Samba.

“We have respect for each other. It is no time for let down and small performances.

“If somebody is not performing they will get displaced every day and if we don’t perform we are dropped. It is good.

“The spirit we have has given us the attitude we can do anything.”

Samba’s last ditch block from Jo’s close range effort saved Rovers a point in the dying seconds but the giant defender insists it was no less than they deserved.

Nikola Kalinic, Mame Biram Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda even had chances to win the game for the visitors in the ‘perfect’ away-day display.

Samba said: “Of course it was a deserved point. We showed a lot of heart and with that we had a little bit of luck along the way.

“But we had a lot of determination to get the result after the disappointment against Arsenal last time out, when we felt we deserved more from the game.

"I think it is a very encouraging point and we are going to go from there.

“Manchester City did throw a lot at us at the end, they especially wanted to win and the crowd were driving them on.

"But to be fair we could have won the game and it would not have been a steal.

“We were solid at the back and we played very, very well on the counter and with a little bit of luck we could definitely have come away with three points.”