Manchester United thrashing left Blackburn Rovers boss 'exhausted'

SAM Allardyce admits Blackburn Rovers’ Old Trafford thrashing had left him mentally exhausted and claims time off was the perfect tonic. The Rovers boss called off training on Wednesday and Thursday, due to the weather, but believes it provided the perfect chance to recover from their 7-1 drubbing. Allardyce’s men stormed back to form in style, with a 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, and he believes the enforced break was ideal for all concerned.

He said: “I can’t speak for the players but I can speak for myself. "I had two days off as well and it was the best thing I could have done. “My head was all over the place. Mentally I was fatigued because it is never off your mind when you suffer a defeat like that, particularly as a manager. “You get the criticism and you have to take it and you have to stand it on your shoulders because it is your responsibility. “I benefited hugely from the two days off and I am sure, from their performance, the players did as well. “We gave them two days off because we didn’t want them travelling two hours in and two hours home in those conditions.

"Some of the players could have been travelling five hours a day and that is not mentally good for you. “Mental fatigue could play a part so we gave them Wednesday and Thursday off. "We couldn’t get a piece of grass until Friday.”