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Matty Hewitt

'Big Samba' Sam Allardyce plots Jay-Jay Okocha survival dance remake with Leeds United's Rodrigo

Leeds United interim boss Sam Allardyce says he'll dance with Rodrigo if his side pull off the impossible this weekend and survive in the Premier League. The 68-year-old famously danced with Bolton Wanderers talisman Jay-Jay Okocha after keeping the Trotters in the top flight at the end of the 2001-02 campaign.

The Whites head coach admits keeping his side up would be the best achievement of his career to date but admits a lot of things must fall into place for that to happen.

Allardyce: "In terms of saving football clubs it would be the best of the lot. I've saved football clubs in dire and desperate situations but that's always been about a lot more games and a lot more opportunities than this.

READ MORE: Simon Jordan makes bold Leeds United boardroom prediction ahead of crunch clash with Tottenham

"To put into place what you need to save them, look, there's tactics and players playing to there best, then there's good fortune. Our good fortune will happen on Sunday hopefully.

"I think the West Ham goals were millimetres off being offside - both of them. Millimetres away from two goals being disallowed from being offside would have made a difference because it was that close.

"You want that to go in your favour when you're in this position or you want the referee give you something that you don't deserve. You don't want the referee to give something against you that you shouldn't have got.

"Hits the post and goes in or hits the post and goes out. They're the uncontrollables. On your day if whatever happens and things are going your way - I even watched a snooker ball move at the world championships without anyone touching it.

"Who moved the ball? We don't know do we? A bounce can go that way and the right way or that way and the wrong way. You hope the good fortune is in your favour - a tackle like West Ham's third goal.

"We intercepted the ball twice and what happened? Went straight to their player twice. That's got to go the other way. All those factors we can't control have to be in your favour."

When asked about keeping Bolton up against Middlesbrough, Allardyce said: "I'd fancy as Rodrigo as the best dancer, a bit of Samba who knows? Big Sam Samba - that would be nice. Let's hope we're smiling on Sunday, we can talk and get ready for the game as much as we can.

"Between now and Sunday it's about how they control themselves. The build-up is building now. As I say to every player, pressure is a privilege at this level and one that you have to master because you're lucky to be in this pressure of playing in the Premier League. Denounce it and deliver."

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