Often Partisan

All Over the Rovers? Blackburn Preview

Birmingham City make a second trip to Lancashire in three days to face Blackburn Rovers as Lee Clark’s men look to extend their eight match unbeaten run.

Blackburn Rovers

Rovers lie seven places and six points above Blues in the table in eleventh, just four points off the playoffs. They are on a four match unbeaten run of their home and haven’t lost at home since going down 1-0 to Charlton back in October, six games ago.

Josh King could come back in after a dead leg whilst midfielder Dickson Etuhu and Corry Evans are both doubts and will face fitness tests prior to the game. Former Blues players Scott Dann and David Dunn could both line up against their previous employers.

Blues

Jesse Lingard will definitely miss the game after being sent off in the game against Wigan Athletic on Boxing day and with his loan spell due to expire on January 1 may have played his last game for the club.

Lee Clark has promised to freshen up the team with changes which could see recalls for Shane Ferguson on the left hand side and Callum Reilly in midfield as the Christmas campaign starts to take its toll with fatigue hitting the players.

This promises to be another tough game for Blues with Blackburn playing well at the moment and with Jordan Rhodes in free-scoring form. Whilst Blues are unbeaten in eight five of them have been draws and I think another draw is potentially the most we can hope for. However, I will happily take that and no more injuries with bottom of the table Barnsley to come on New Year’s Day

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40 Responses to “All Over the Rovers? Blackburn Preview”

  • DoctorD says:

    I keep being miserable and predicting draws or narrow defeats just to stop me getting too worked up about anything positive that might happen. (It’s the defeat I can take; it’s the hope that’s unbearable.) So I’m going to go again for a 1-1 draw or a 2-1 defeat but won’t be surprised if something awful like a 4-0 loss happens.

  • mark says:

    Imo would happily take a draw from this fixture, if blues are to do alittle better we must take our chances when they come…………kro

  • StaffsBlue says:

    My head says 1-1… my heart says 2-1 to Blues.

    Looking at their squad.. apart from Rhodes, they’re no great shakes.

  • Royalblue says:

    I feel positive about this one, we played well at Wigan and would have won without the sending off.
    2-1 Blues

  • Bluehobba says:

    I’m gonna go for a 2-2. Just getting the car warmed up and then ready for the 155 mile long trip up there.

    kro

  • sutton apex says:

    a draw would be a great result – however i fear a 2-1 defeat i’m afraid

  • ray says:

    It’s the inclusion of David Dunn that worries me. He always used to have a good game against us for Blackurn. Perhaps he’ll get injured in the warm up as he did for us at Villa Park. KRO

  • Frankie says:

    Two teams, poles apart in terms of funding, although similar in terms of shocking ownership.
    If we get owt up there will be a tremendous result.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I’d go with:

    Randolph

    Caddis Bartley Burn Robbo

    Adeyemi Reilly

    Burke McLean Ferguson

    Zigic

  • Chris W says:

    I’m more confident of getting a result against Blackburn than Barnsley.
    Blackburn are riding high and beginning to find some form of their own, and the last three meetings have produced draws out of 115 meetings 28 have been drawn but not one has been goalless.
    A draw will be a good result away from home but I feel we can nick this one 2-1.
    KRO+DNM

  • Eddie says:

    Knowing us, we will win at Blackburn and lose to Barnsley.

    We’ll look back and be glad at 3 points from them two games but did expect them the other way round

  • cotswold blue says:

    Why does it always worry me when Clark says he is going to freshen things up a bit?

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I’m a bit worried about the midfield, with Lee and Shinnie in it… both of whom couldn’t tackle a Tonka.

  • Bluenosesol says:

    1-2 Blues!

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Tiredness did us in the end. We had no legs left. The subs and switch to 4-4-2 helped us to hold on.

    • Chris W says:

      Not a great fan of Novak, he is started to grow on me with his work rate and now goals, he certainly earned his spurs today.
      He was the difference in the first half and we should have cruised to an easy victory, but He-Ho! this is BCFC, gave us a few heart stopping moments but hung on for another 3 points away from home and we ended with 11 heroes on the pitch.
      Not only the Novak knockers, as I said I have been one of them, but also the Anti LC brigade too, he is beginning to prove his worth.
      We now have a team we can begin to believe in, though there is nothing wrong with aiming for the play-off I still think a respectable mid-table finish is what we should be consolidating for until ownership or financial stability is found.
      Great way to end 2013, lets start 2014 with a decent crowd and a win.
      KRO+DNM

      • StaffsBlue says:

        We’re 17th, three points behind Huddersfield in 11th… so where will a win against Barnsley take us? I think, if we beat Barnsley, and get a good result in the cup, the feel-good atmosphere could be back.

        • Chris W says:

          Looking at the fixtures we can certainly move up to 12th/13th, however, we have to win our game first and Barnsley is a potential banana skin at home.
          To be honest, I am more than happy to stay roundabouts where we are as long as we can maintain 10 points clear of the drop just in case of any mishaps regarding Blues finances.
          LC seems to have things under control regarding the playing aspect, maybe a couple of additions in the loan window, just to keep things fresh.
          KRO+DNM

          • StaffsBlue says:

            I think we need a striker, a defensive all-rounder… and if Ferguson does go back, a natural left-footer. Other than those, I think we’re ok.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I just hope the Novak knockers give it a rest now.

  • sutton apex says:

    well done lee clark – he deserves alot of credit, particuarly from all his doubters !

    • StaffsBlue says:

      Instead of taking a striker off and inviting more pressure, he put another striker on, took the game to them a bit more and eased the pressure a bit. Took a brave and clever man to do that.

  • Frankie says:

    Just got back.
    Magnificent performance from the boys, good finishes from Novak and a nice bit of grub at the Hungry Horse too.
    As stated, hope Tilton ‘tactical geniuses’ will get off Lee Clark and Novak’s back.
    Leave it to the professionals boys !

  • Barry says:

    Hats off to Clark and the team. Had them down to loose today and they proved me wrong. Can we make it 10 unbeaten?? Let’s hope!

    • StaffsBlue says:

      Since we lost 4-0 at Leeds on 20th October…. we’ve lost just ONCE in 11 league games (0-1 to Charlton.) It might be a bit optimistic… but that’s play-off form. :-)

  • Shirley Blue says:

    Are Burn and Bartley on loan for the remainder of the season. Good partnership seems to be developing there. All out for three points against Barnsley and 10 games without defeat and we go into 2014 in very decent shape on the field – probably better than we could have hoped at the start of the season. It might not be a bad thing we haven’t got a game on Saturday now.
    Without wishing to undermine the importance of the FA cup I think it’s an opportunity to give some players a rest next Tuesday. Maybe its time for the likes of Mullins, Ambrose and Lovenkrands to earn their money and have a look at some of the kids.

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong… but Bartley and Burn are here for the season. McLean, Lingard, Allan and Ferguson’s deals are up in January.

  • Bluehobba says:

    Just got Back, we defended very well and the midfield worked tirelessly for as much possession Blackburn had, Randolph didn’t have much to do at all. We were out of sight by half time but in the second half we tired across the park and 2 games in 4 days seemed to take effect. The reason Blackburn had so much of the ball was cos Blues kept giving the ball away and couldn’t keep it for long enough.
    As I tweeted Blackburn were toothless and Blues were immaculate.
    If home draws were turned in to wins who knows where we would be, long may it continue.
    Great support and worthy of the 3 points,
    kro

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I think one of the biggest factors, is that the teams just above and just below us keep winning too… otherwise we’d have been out of sight of the bottom 6 ages ago.

  • Shirley Blue says:

    Good news about Burn and Bartley. I was a bit worried Fulham might think about recalling Burn the way they are conceding. We have got to aim for 60 points minimum with 50 points usually enough to avoid relegation and 10 pointx in case of administration.
    The clubs around us keep picking up points or we would be comfortably mid table now rather than 17th. Some of the clubs who went off like a train at the start of the season are faltering a little which means we are only 7 points off the playoffs.
    We won’t get a better opportunity to end the barren spell at home than against Barnsley. This run must have taken a lot out of some of the ever presents physically and the FA cup gives a great opportunity to give them a mid season break and use some of the squad players.

  • mark says:

    well well well all the Clark knockers have gone quiet, hope your enjoying the ashes series Tony………….it can only get better……….lol
    this is a fantastic result by the blue boys ……………….great away support………….let hope now we fill the stans and give bansley a good tonking Tony will love that lol…………..Well done Novak not bad for a player who cant hit a barn door………………..etc………….play-offs here come……………………….kroooooooooo

    • Tony says:

      Take a look at the table Mark we are 17th thats not good enough, Novak is a third rate striker that fact is accepted by most. Clark is likewise a man who manages on a wing and a prayer, it has become my lifes ambition to see him removed.

      • steve says:

        Enjoyed yesterday’s game .I thought it was a good all round performace.I can’t believe people are talking about play offs.It’s not gonna happen.How many times do you hear”The table never lies”?It doesn’t.We’re in the position we are because that’s where we deserve to be.I’ve made my position clear on Elsie.I don’t like him and i never will.I’ll be glad when he’s gone. My stance on Novak is slowing changing,but if we’re going to improve,Novak isn’t the sort of player we need.Atm,we can do no better than him.We really need to sort out our home form,but i haven’t really seen anything to make me think that’s going to happen anytime soon.We really should beat Barnsley.

      • Frankie says:

        Oh dear Tony.
        Not the decency and upbringing to admit you are wrong.
        Not to mention the lack of football savvy.

  • mark says:

    get in thereeeeeeeeeee………………………

  • Aussieblue says:

    I’m putting money on Blues making the play offs after that one!


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