Filed under: Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: EWOOD PARK, MONDAY APRIL 25, 2010. KICK-OFF: 2000 BSTSteve Kean and Roberto Mancini do not appear to have that much in common but scratch the surface and the two should have lots to talk about after this encounter.
Both managers have ambitious owners to please, a demanding fanbase that are expecting good times and both are under huge pressure to get results at the business end of the season.
City need a win to maintain their chances of finishing this season in the Champions League positions while Blackburn are desperate to put a terrible 2011 behind them and confirm their safety after a disastrous second half of the season.
At this stage of the season, Rovers are usually safe in mid-table but their fans cannot afford to relax quite yet and Rovers seem to be in freefall at the moment.
Expect a tense game, plenty of passion - and two stressed managers in the dug outs...
Key Match-up: Chris Samba v Mario Balotelli. This pair are close friends but that will all be forgotten in this clash. Two strong and physical players will do their best to outwit each other and Rovers need a brilliant game from Samba if Balotelli is to be silenced.
Form Guide: Blackburn have not won since beating West Bromwich Albion on January 23 in a run that has transformed a positive season into a desperately nervous and tense one. City go into the encounter on the back of beating Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend.
Odds: Blackburn 13/5 City 11/10 Draw 23/10
BLACKBURN:
Kean has suggested the media are to blame for the gloom hanging over Blackburn Rovers at the moment and insists he will never quit as Rovers' manager.
Rovers have not won for three months and that run has provoked furious criticism among a section of the club's support.
However, Kean argues that life at Rovers is not as bad as that record suggests and insists that Blackburn's recent three-match unbeaten run - including a fine point against Arsenal at the Emirates - has been ignored.
He said: " I think it's [the recent coverage] been harsh. There was very little written about the first point at the Emirates in seven years. That just came and went.
"Then the whole world is going to end because a couple of games we should have won, we drew.
"I think it's been very harsh. At times there have been things put in which have been difficult to take.
"We had a little bit of momentum going and nothing was really mentioned, really bad refereeing decisions were swept under the carpet.
"A three-game unbeaten run is not massive but from any team in the bottom half should have been mentioned. There should have been more made of it.
"I feel it's been harsh. There's been a lot said about us not performing. I disagree. We're not getting as many wins but we're attempting to go about it the right way."
That run of results - regardless of Kean's opinion - cannot be viewed as anything other than a disappointing end to a season that could still easily end in relegation.
The reception Kean received from some of his own fan's during last Saturday's loss to Everton underlined that he is not a popular man at present but he claims that the thought of walking away from the job has never crossed his mind.
He added: "Not one day. Not one second - the fact we haven't won for so long makes me more determined to go and win the next one.
"They can then take that enthusiasm from us and that can be harnessed. We have to show we are prepared to roll our sleeves up."
Strategy: Niko Kalinic needs to see plenty of the ball in this encounter if Rovers wish to prosper. Blackburn have looked dreadful going forward in recent weeks and have created virtually nothing. With Roque Santa Cruz ineligible for this match as City is his former side, Kalinic will have to get into dangerous positions - along woth David Dunn - and try and muster up a moment or two of magic.
Injury Update: Vince Grella (Achilles) and Ryan Nelsen (knee) are Kean's two biggest injury concerns although Junior Hoilett has returned from a hamstring problem.
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