Allardyce happy with Reds draw

Last updated : 09 February 2004 By Chris Maxwell
The trotters twice led their North-West rivals only to be denied by goals from Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard, but Allardyce was quick to heap praise upon his in-form team.

Allardyce said: "We've come out with a very valuable point against a team like Liverpool which has its best players back. Our players deserve every bit of credit they get for matching a team of that quality.

"They have done this club proud, and there was some top-quality entertainment for the fans.

"We have matched Liverpool for fitness; we have matched them for technique; we have matched them for determination and we have matched them for quality in front of goal."