Premier League Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City live streaming and Highlights

New Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce hopes to bring back the fun factor for his beleaguered players after 11 league matches without victory.The 51-year-old takes charge for the first time at home to Stoke on Saturday having had one and a half training sessions to get to know the squad. 

But even in that time it has been obvious to Allardyce they are short on confidence having lost the last six league matches in a row - a sequence which led to the dismissal of Paul Ince on Tuesday. 

The Rovers boss was famed for his man-management skills during a successful eight-year spell at near-neighbours Bolton and he hopes to be able to work the same magic at a club currently 19th in the table.

Out of the top 20 players in the Premier League with the most bookings this season, Stephen Warnock is the only man representing this once great club. This is why they fail. Anyone complaining about a future drop in entertainment value at Ewood Park has clearly never seen Rovers play. 

But where Sam will really excel is bringing in quality players with a point to prove on the cheap, and it's best not to believe him when he said: "Trying to evaluate the squad is the most important thing before I even think about January's transfer window."