FA PREMIER LEAGUE: Blackburn Rovers 2 Wigan Athletic 0:SAMBA-STYLE football has acquired a new meaning. Rather than wanton, crowd-pleasing trickery performed by exported and expensive Brazilians, Sam Allardyce's redefinition of the phrase entailed plucking his largest player from the heart of the defence to lead the line and aiming a succession of long balls in his direction.
It could be deemed a neolithic tactic, but it was an undeniably effective one. While Benni McCarthy and Ryan Nelsen scored the goals, Christopher Samba was the dominant figure of this Lancashire derby, emphasising the Congolese defender’s emergence as the pivotal player in Rovers’ campaign to avert relegation.
Their previous victory, when Tottenham were defeated in a comeback, occurred after Samba assumed a more advanced role in the second half. Starting as a striker yesterday, he became a totemic figure, dwarfing Wigan’s sizeable centre-backs, Titus Bramble and Paul Scharner, and proving a fearsome foil to McCarthy.
Samba’s considerable presence served to distract Wigan for both goals. “He certainly had a nuisance value,” said Allardyce. “At this stage, in the position we are in, he is the best we’ve got,” added the Blackburn manager, who is without the sidelined Roque Santa Cruz and Jason Roberts.
“It’s not the prettiest to watch but, by God, it’s difficult to play against,” said the Wigan manager, Steve Bruce. “We might mock it, but he was a handful.”
He was, and it was a sign that Allardyce appears to have adopted Stoke’s blueprint for survival. Morten Gamst Pedersen has been reinvented as Ewood Park’s answer to Rory Delap and the Norwegian winger now appears valued most for his throw. Meanwhile the hulking Samba, though scarcely a specialist striker, is doing his best impression of Mamady Sidibe. Delicacy, it is safe to say, is not being prioritised.
Given their focus on set-pieces, it was only fitting that Rovers’ reward came from two. However, despite a series of long throws, the breakthrough came from a corner. Pedersen delivered the ball from right flank and McCarthy rose above Chris Kirkland to apply the finish, albeit with the back of his head.
There are occasions – such as when Samba was preferred in attack at Anfield 16 days ago – when it appears Allardyce remains unconvinced by the South African’s attributes. Nevertheless, the scorer of the opening goal was the provider of the second when he whipped in a free-kick from the left flank. Nelsen, despite a hint of offside, applied a glancing header to deliver the first goal of his four-year career at Ewood Park.
“I’ve no complaints,” said Bruce. “But it wasn’t going to be our day.”
The clean sheet completed a gratifying weekend for Allardyce. Despite their inactivity, Rovers had climbed a place on Saturday when Hull acquired an inferior goal difference. Their elevation above Sunderland yesterday came courtesy of their own achievements.
Guardian Service
