Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Blackburn (16th; 35 points) vs Manchester City (4th; 56 points)
When: Monday 25th February, 2011, at 20:00 UK time
Where: Ewood Park, Blackburn, England
Lost The Winning Feeling
When Steve Kean was handed the keys to the manager’s office upon Sam Allardyce’s sacking the Scot instantly impressed. Initially, Blackburn did not look like a side that needed to worry about relegation and the club’s new owners, the Indian Venky’s Group, were praised for having the foresight to stick with the man who had previously only enjoyed assistant manager stints. However, Kean and Blackburn are now in trouble, with the club having slumped and looking like serious relegation candidates. With no win in their last nine games, Kean needs to magic up points here.
The duel against City is one of three home games out of Rovers’ last five fixtures. At least another five points from those games looks like being needed, but first Kean must concentrate on stopping the rot and starting to build some confidence again in his charges. If he does that, he may have a chance – albeit a slim one – of holding onto his job for next season. And so, Kean wants wins and does not care how they come about.
"It is lovely to win and play nice football, but at this stage of the season and with the position that we are in it is only about winning", said the Rovers manager.
Securing Champions League Football
Manchester City will be in jubilant mood, still on a high after defeating local rivals Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup. A meeting with Stoke City in the final already has many of the Eastlands faithful believing only a miracle will stop Roberto Mancini lifting the first trophy of the new Middle Eastern owners’ reign. However, the Premier League is a more pressing matter and winning the FA Cup would not make up for slipping out of the Champions League spots. With Tottenham Hotspur having drawn on Saturday, City have the chance to extend their lead over their fourth place rivals.
"To qualify for the Champions League we have to try to win all our games now", explained City star Dedryck Boyata. "I’m enjoying it, I’ve never been in this kind of position before and I want to play Champions League football."
And perhaps in Boyata’s words lies the clue of what could stop City reaching Europe’s showpiece event – themselves. As the games tick down, so the pressure increases, and Blackburn will be eager to take advantage.
Recent form
Blackburn:
Arsenal 0-0 Blackburn
(02/04; Premier League)
Blackburn 1-1 Birmingham
(09/04; Premier League)
Everton 2-0 Blackburn
(16/04; Premier League)
Manchester City:
Manchester City 5-0 Sunderland (03/04; Premier League)
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
(11/04; Premier League)
Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United (16/04; FA Cup)
Key absences
Blackburn: Vince Grella; Ryan Nelson; Roque Santa Cruz (ineligible); Steven N’Zonzi (suspended); David Hoilett (doubt)
Manchester City: Jerome Boateng; Michael Johnson; Shay Given; Micah Richards; Carlos Tevez; Kolo Toure (club suspension)
Players to watch
Blackburn Rovers – Paul Robinson: Manchester City, with their abundance of attacking firepower, can be expected to create chances at Ewood Park and what exactly Blackburn can take from the game may come down to Paul Robinson. The former Tottenham Hotspur keeper is capable of sublime saves at times and if he is on form then there is no reason why he cannot keep City’s strikers at bay.
Manchester City – Mario Balotelli: The Italian was again the centre of controversy after City’s FA Cup semi-final win over United. United defender Rio Ferdinand criticised Balotelli for celebrating in front of the opposing fans, but while Ferdinand might have seemed hypocritical given the celebrations of United stalwarts like Gary Neville against Liverpool over the years, another message was clear to see – Ferdinand worries about Balotelli; and he has good reason to. On his day, Balotelli is unstoppable. Temperament permitting, he can go all the way to the top of the game.
Match Prediction
Blackburn would desperately love to grab a win from this one to end their poor run. Nine games without a win is a monkey on their back and perhaps one that could sink them into the relegation quagmire. However, Kean’s side must respect City. The Eastlands outfit have such talent within their ranks that when it all clicks they can power past any opposing side. If Rovers stand firm then a draw is possible though. Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Manchester City.
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