Premier League Preview: Blackburn vs Manchester Utd
Blackburn have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three home league games; Manchester United have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three away.
Manchester United have managed just one win at Ewood Park in their last eight visits since 1999; that being 0-1 on 11 November 2006 when Louis Saha got the winner.
Blackburn have dropped more points (61) and conceded more goals (49) to Manchester United than any other club in the Premier League.
United had to rely on a dramatic equaliser in the last two minutes to avoid defeat on their last visit to Ewood Park in April.
TEAM NEWS
Blackburn are likely to be without goalkeeper Paul Robinson who is struggling to shake off a calf injury.
Vince Grella is also a doubt, while Benni McCarthy is back in training but is unlikely to start.
Wayne Rooney is a doubt for Manchester United after injuring his ankle in the midweek European win at Aalborg.
Paul Scholes was carried off in that match with medial ligament damage and joins Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick on the sidelines.
SQUADS
Blackburn: Brown, Robinson, Bunn, Nelsen, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Emerton, Olsson, Tugay, Derbyshire, Santa Cruz, Villanueva, Fowler, Andrews, Fowler, Grella, Treacy, Pedersen.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Amos, Neville, Brown, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, O’Shea, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck.
QUOTES
“This is the exciting thing about coming to the Premier League. It’s a chance to pit yourself against Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of all time as far as I’m concerned.” (Blackburn manager Paul Ince)
“At the end of the day it is how you tell your own story and how you impart your knowledge to players that counts.” (Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson)
LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Manchester United
19 April 2008 - Ref: Rob Styles
Blackburn scorer: Santa Cruz 21
Man Utd scorer: Tevez 88
PREDICTION
I expect a tight match and a narrow away victory.
Possible correct score: 1-2