Roberts lets his future at Rovers take care of itself

Although his Blackburn Rovers career may well be fizzling out, Jason Roberts appears determined to go with a bang. The striker came off the bench and scored what proved to be the winner against his former side Wigan Athletic on Saturday to prove to manager Sam Allardyce that, even at 32, he deserves a fresh contract.

He is widely expected to leave Ewood Park in January but just wants to continue scoring and not stress too much over what the future brings. "I have been relaxed about it," Roberts said. "I don't pick the team, all I do is train hard and if selected I do what I did today. I will endeavour to keep getting in the team and if selected I will do the best I can. That is what I have always done, whether I have played good, bad or indifferent.

"For me I will keep trying to get in the team and come January, like me and the manager have said, we will look at it again. I have got goals at all levels, I have got no problem. If someone wants to do something about it they will, if they don't they don't. I will continue doing what I have done in my career."

Roberts clinically finished a Brett Emerton cross to put Blackburn 2-0 up as he built upon the foundations laid down by Morten Gamst Pedersen's opening goal. Wigan had already had their share of back luck in the first half when Charles N'Zogbia had a goal harshly ruled out after challenging Pedersen on his way to scoring.

N'Zogbia did halve the deficit with 16 minutes remaining but it was not enough as Rovers held on and Wigan replaced them in the relegation zone. "If we perform like that 10 times you will win six, draw three and lose one and that is what happened today," the Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez, said.

Match facts

Man of the match Roberts. Match rating 6/10.

Possession Blackburn 58% Wigan 42%

Shots on target Blackburn 4 Wigan 6.

Referee K Friend (Leicestershire) Att 24,413.