Former Port Vale midfielder and Sentinel columnist Robbie Earle looks at the managerial situation at Blackburn

BLACKBURN'S decision to change managers is bad news for Stoke and the rest of the sizeable relegation pack, but that doesn't mean Big Sam Allardyce will be walking tall at 5pm tomorrow.

It's no disrespect to Paul Ince to say the move has improved Rovers' prospects.

Ince is a bright young manager who I expect to reappear in the game, but Sam has been there and done it at this level and should get a response from the Rovers squad.

Whether he will get one as fast as this weekend is the question Stoke fans will have been asking themselves since he was appointed on Wednesday.

I've no doubt Tony Pulis didn't want to be looking at Big Sam's mug across the dug-outs, but let's not forget this is the same group of players who have lost their last six games.

Visit our Stoke City website www.whydelilah.co.uk to read the story in full