Allardyce believes his potential match-winners have not come up with the goods enough this season and that is hitting his side's chances of reaching the top half of the table.

Morten Gamst Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf both scored in the 2-2 draw against Sunderland yesterday, but Allardyce included both players as examples of stars who have not been consistent enough.

Allardyce said: "Some of the players have not been quite up to the level that they should be. That is your Mortens, your Dioufys, Jason Roberts, Benni McCarthy.

"That's why we haven't found the goalscorers we might have found."

Allardyce believes finding someone to emulate the success of Sunderland's 13-goal striker Darren Bent will be key to his side's ability to haul themselves away from the relegation zone.

He added: "We've got to find someone to start putting the ball in the net on a regular basis because its going to make a big different for us in turning our draws into victories."

Meanwhile, Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is also hoping for a boost in fortunes in the new year after his squad, ravaged by injuries and suspensions, extended their dismal run of form to one win from 11 league games.

With just five points from 10 games on their travels, Bruce is convinced an improvement in away form is key to his side's bid to push for a Europa League place, but says the hard-earned point at Blackburn can be a start.

Bruce said: "I'm convinced our form this season has been okay. If you start from now, our away form has got off to a decent start. Let's hope the turn of the year can be better because we can't be any worse away from home.

"We've been frustrated over the last four or five weeks, we've never really had a settled back four and we've had too many injuries and suspensions. Overall we are where we are."