JUSSI Jaaskelainen is hoping he has convinced Sam Allardyce to stick with him for the rest of the season.

Dropped from Wanderers' Premiership line-up for the first time in 20 months when he was forced to sit out Saturday's home draw with West Brom, the Finland international responded with an impressive display in the 2-1 win at Birmingham.

He admitted he was disappointed to lose his place but insisted he had no hard feelings.

"You never know what will happen in football," he said. "I just have to accept the manager's decision and go from there.

"It's about what's best for this football club and not what's best for me, so I've got nothing against this decision."

Allardyce was delighted with Jaaskelainen's response, singling out a first half save from Emile Heskey when Wanderers were leading 1-0, as one of the keys to the St Andrew's win.

"I took him out of the fray to give him something to think about," the manager said. "I thought he earned us a victory when he kept us in the game when he saved from Heskey after our defence slipped up."

Jasskelainen modestly played down the Heskey save. "That's my job," he said, "but hopefully it means he (the manager) will pick me in the next game."