Long not fooled by Blackburn position

Shane Long is not underestimating the challenge that Blackburn Rovers will pose when they face West Brom on Saturday, even though they are second bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

The table is so tight at the moment with only ten points separating the bottom twelve teams, Long believes that not much can be read into the standings.

"It's strange because if we had won at the weekend we would have been in the top ten but because we lost it looks more bleak," Long explained. "It's a bit false at the moment, but Blackburn need points as well, especially the way they lost to Sunderland.

"Their fans have fallen out with different things, but if you look at their players, they've got a decent side."

The Irishman is particularly relishing a duel with Rovers' man-mountain Christopher Samba.

The striker's impressive leap makes up for his diminutive stature and Long has worked hard to develop this part of his game.

"I just think it's timing more than anything," the ex-Reading man said. "I try to get across defenders and tend not to stand under the ball because a lot of them are bigger than me, so I try to stay away and come across them at the last minute.

"It's working for me up to now and people don't expect me to win the ball in the air so I have put a lot of effort in to prove them wrong.

"I'm looking forward to facing Samba."