Rovers are currently 18th in the table, having occupied a place in the bottom three for most of the season.

After overseeing a run of six matches unbeaten in the league having taken over from the sacked Paul Ince in mid-December, Allardyce's side have now not won in four.

Fortunately the relegation battle is so tight this year that there are still a number of clubs involved and Allardyce believes they are all feeling the pressure.

"People have tried to buy their way out [of trouble] in January - certainly Tottenham have - but we didn't have that luxury," he said.

"You have to rely on the players you have got. When you look at what they have done before I have to make sure I get the best out of them and not let the situation we are in override them with fear.

"It is about getting the basics right more than not and making fewer mistakes than the opposition and then capitalising on their mistakes and using your talent.

"I saw a fear in Tottenham on Monday, even though they won the game (2-1 at Hull).

"I saw a huge panic in a side so desperate to get a result they never played any of the football you expect Spurs to play.

"In fact, in the vast majority of the game Hull were the better team but what happened was Tottenham scored two very good goals."

Coincidentally Hull are Blackburn's opponents at the KC Stadium on Sunday when Allardyce goes head to head with Tigers boss Phil Brown, his assistant at Bolton for many years.

After an impressive start to their maiden top-flight campaign Hull have slumped to 13th, only six points above Rovers.

"It is absolutely massive," said Allardyce on the significance of the match.

"We are getting to a stage where it is a must-win situation with the points we have let slip away.

"We could drag Hull closer to us on Sunday if we could get that very valuable three points.

"Our recent performances have not accumulated the bigger points total we should have gained and now it becomes a little more desperate.

"We just have to make sure the desperation is used in a positive way and it doesn't detract from our performances.

"The sooner we start [winning] the better so Hull is a major game, it is nearly a must-win game for us and if we come away without those three points it doesn't get us any nearer to them or other teams above us and another game ticks by."

Allardyce will make late checks on the fitness of midfielders Vince Grella (groin) and David Dunn (hamstring) before Sunday's match.

He is, however, likely to make wholesale changes from the side which lost to Coventry in their midweek FA Cup fifth round replay.