SAM Allardyce admitted he was "very concerned" about the Reebok pitch, which has had its problems in the past but has held up well so far this season.

"The lads were complaining that it was a little bobbly," he explained. "It didn't run true, and it was taking that second longer to get the ball moved on, which allows the opposition time to get back into covering positions. It's nit-picking, but it's something we'll look at over the next week."