SAM Allardyce has hailed the growth of a ‘rare’ Ewood Park spirit – after admitting he is close to reproducing the team unity created during his Bolton glory days.

Richard Dunne's 86th minute own goal gave Blackburn Rovers a 1-0 win at Aston Villa yesterday to end their season in style and secure a financially lucrative top 10 Premier League finish.

Youngsters Amine Linganzi and the superb Grant Hanley were handed their first team debuts, as Allardyce continued to put his faith in youth, leaving everyone at Ewood excited about the future.

Allardyce’s 18 months at the helm have seen their ups and downs but, as he celebrates a 10th place finish, he admits he sees a similarity to what he built at Bolton last decade.

And with Morten Gamst Pedersen still to decide on his Rovers future, Allardyce has warned him “it doesn’t get much better than this.”

Allardyce said: “We don’t know about Morten. We are still keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully the last two results will go a long way to sorting it in our favour.

“I have been in a great dressing room today. It borders on the time I had at Bolton Wanderers.

"It was that good and there is a lot to be said for that type of feeling.

“It doesn't come around too often and I never felt I would get that type of unity and team spirit in the 18 months I have been here, with all the changes we have had.

“Of course winning makes it a lot easier and we have been winning over the last eight games.

"We didn't lose to any of the top boys at home and we did the double over Aston Villa – so you can't get better than that, can you boys.”