DAVID Dunn insists Sam Allardyce’s Ewood Park achievements have more than made up for his past allegiances in the eyes of even the most staunch Blackburn Rovers fan.

The Rovers boss took a while to win the Rovers faithful over, something Dunn puts down to his Bolton Wanderers connections, but Sunday’s derby hero now believes Allardyce has proved beyond doubt he was the right man for the job.

Allardyce, who earned legend status at Lancashire rivals Bolton during his eight year managerial stint, pulled out of the running to succeed Mark Hughes as Rovers boss in 2008 – after fans made it clear they didn’t want him at Ewood.

Six months later though Allardyce was called upon to guide Rovers to safety, following Paul Ince’s troubled regime, with some home fans taking time to be convinced.

But after guiding them to safety last campaign and now taking them into the Premier League top ten this time round, local lad Dunn insists ‘Big Sam’ has won them over..

Dunn said: “I think, in terms of the supporters point of view, it was always going to be difficult when a manager comes in from your other local rivals.

“We have Burnley and Bolton in our league and if their ex manager takes over it is going to take a while to win the fans over.

“I don’t think there is a supporter out there now though that can look at Big Sam and not see what he has achieved. He has achieved so much in such a short space of time.”