Blackburn Rovers vs West Brom - Match Preview
Steve Kean is a man under pressure, huge pressure...
Steve Kean is a man under pressure, huge pressure. Rovers sit 19th in the league table on 10 points and somehow threw away a 1-0 lead at the Stadium of Light last weekend which dented their survival hopes even more. Even though Blackburn have suffered a torrid start to the season and the supporters - well some of them - are on the side's back, the players seem to remain behind their coach and there seems to be a real team spirit running through the squad, which is always important when you are in a bid to survive. Rovers did it last season, just about, through winning at Molineux 3-2. But it doesn't look to good for them this term as we approach the Christmas period. Nigerian striker Yakubu is the only real player keeping the team alive at the moment, with nine goals in ten games, the forward is on great form. He'll be key if Blackburn are to win this vital match tomorrow afternoon. They might not have some of the fans' support, but what they do have is a dedicated boss, a good bunch of talented players and the potential to get themselves out of the mess they're in. Coincidentally, Kean's first win in charge of Blackburn was against the Baggies. In-fact, Rovers did the 'double' over the Midlands club last campaign, winning 3-1 home and away. The visitors are the league's joint lowest scorers with Wigan (14), this stat is hardly surprising considering Roy Hodgson's gameplan which is to set up defensively and hit the opponent on the counter-attack. Hodgson has always been known for his organization skills and ability to set up the backline well. And that's what he's done at the Hawthorns since taking over in Febuary this year. But this gameplan is having a clear negative effect on the attacking side of the team, as the 14 goals scored this season fact more than proves. Despite striker Shane Long being argueably one of the purchases of the season, other forward Peter Odemwingie, who got 15 goals last season, hasn't lived up to the expectations set. With just two goals this season and constant injury worries surrounding the Nigerian international, it hasn't been the best of season's so far for the 30-year-old, who is the club's highest paid player. Albion will want to make right what was so wrong last season against Rovers as they lost twice to Kean's men. If Steven Reid can't face his old club then young Billy Jones is expected to start at right-back, to Juniour Hoilett's delight. It should be a entertaining fixture. A big game for both sides, Rovers need to get out of the bottom three as soon as possible and Albion need to try and re-bound off their 2-1 defeat to Wigan last weekend, which put them down to 16th in the table. Strugglers Blackburn host 16th place West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park tomorrow afternoon as they prepare to try and lift themselves out of the bottom three and go into the Christmas break with a string of positive results put together.