Arsenal V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 4 February 2012 – 13:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

Two teams in urgent need of a win will seek out comfort in each other this weekend, as Arsenal, without a win in four Premier League games, take on third from bottom Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with the Lancashire club bidding to repeat their four-goal heroics in last September’s seven-goal thriller between the two sides.

It was one of the most remarkable, memorable games in Premier League history – Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal; 17 September, 2011. A seven-goal spectacle that the underdogs somehow edged. You’ll get mammoth odds on a repeat (500/1 for Blackburn 4-3), with the Gunners overwhelming favourites to reverse that scoreline (3/10 on an Arsenal victory) – emphatically so, too. Whether they do remains to be seen, as they haven’t shown an awful lot of late to suggest they’re even capable of dishing out a spanking.

Arsene Wenger would settle for just a win right now, let alone a convincing one. Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at Bolton was, believe it or not, Arsenal’s first Premier League point of 2012; previously, they had suffered defeat on visits to Fulham (2-1) and Swansea (3-2) as well as at home to Manchester United (1-2). So that point did at least put the brakes on their three-match losing streak in the league, although they remain without a win in four, since edging out QPR at home 1-0 on 31 December, 2011.

Worrying times then for the Gunners, who have slipped to seventh, five-points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, after going over a month without a league win – they are, however, into the fifth-round of the FA Cup following January scalps of Leeds (1-0) and Aston Villa (3-2). So it’s imperative the North Londoners get back to winning ways as soon as possible, and who better to face than struggling Blackburn?

Only Bolton (15) and Wigan (14) have slumped to more defeats this season than Blackburn (13), who went down 2-0 on Wednesday at home to Newcastle to leave the Lancashire club two-points adrift of safety in 18TH. However, Rovers are unbeaten in three top-flight matches away from home, a run which even includes their shock 3-2 victory at Old Trafford over Manchester United on 31 December, 2011.

Worryingly though, manager Steve Kean did not strengthen sufficiently during the January transfer window, bringing in only Bradley Orr and Anthony Modeste (on loan from Bordeaux). And, if anything, the dressing room has lost its most influential player, with club captain Chris Samba yet to feature in the first-team since handing in a written transfer request last month.

Match Pointers

Last PL Meeting: Blackburn 4-3 Arsenal (17 September, 2011); a remarkable contest that left everyone speechless at full-time. The Gunners had taken the lead twice through goals from Gervinho and Mikel Arteta, before Blackburn stormed back with four goals of their own, two from Yakubu, to secure a memorable 4-3 triumph.

- Arsenal are unbeaten in eight home Premier League games versus Blackburn (W7 D1 L0), whose last victory in this fixture (at Arsenal) was a 2-1 win on 26 October, 2002.

- Blackburn have failed to score on six of their last eight visits to Arsenal in the league.

Arsenal

- The Gunners (League Position: 7TH; Form: WLLLD) ended a run of three straight league defeats with a 0-0 draw at Bolton in midweek, though they have now registered one solitary point from their last four matches.

- Arsenal have scored precisely one goal in each of their previous five Premier League home games – four of which were netted in the second-half.

- At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have won seven and lost twice in the Premier League this season (W7 D2 L2).

Blackburn

- Wednesday’s 2-0 home loss to Newcastle meant Blackburn (League Position: 18TH, Form: WLWDL) remained in the relegation zone, two-points off safety.

- Just two teams (Norwich & Wigan) have conceded more away goals than Rovers (23 from 11 away PL matches).

- Away from home, Blackburn have won only one of eleven (W1 D6 L4).

- Blackburn are unbeaten in the English capital this season, drawing 1-1 at both Fulham and QPR.

Betting

Prediction: Arsenal to WIN @ 3/10 (Bet365)

I would love to oppose Arsenal in the form they are in, especially at the odds, but that would mean putting some form of faith in a Blackburn team destined for relegation. Yes they did beat Manchester United at Old Trafford a few weeks ago, but that was a significantly weakened United team shorn of Wayne Rooney and the like. You could even argue that playing away from home is also a positive for Steve Kean and his players, considering the fractious relationship between the team and it’s home supporters. Even so, I cannot bring myself to back anything other than a home win.

Arsenal have been very disappointing in 2012, even in the FA Cup. So many are failing to produce, particularly in the attacking third of the pitch. I never thought they’d miss Gervinho as much as they have, simple because Theo Walcott has been extremely poor. However, Walcott and the rest of his attacking chums have a shot at redemption here, attacking a Blackburn defence that concedes on average two goals a game. I’m expecting them to score a few here, something they haven’t done for a while at home in the league.

Value Bet: Aaron Ramsey to Score @ 3/1 (Ladbrokes)

Following my own logic that Arsenal will score a few, it could pay to back someone other than Robin Van Persie netting at the Emirates, whom accounts for four of Arsenal’s last six league goals. Theo Walcott recently scored at Swansea so he’s no longer due; Wenger may opt to rest Oxlade-Chamberlain and go with Henry, who is far too shore to be backing; so it leaves me with the midfielders. Both Mikel Arteta (7/2) and Aaron Ramsey are handsomely priced, yet it is Ramsey who finds himself on the end of more scoring opportunities who appeals more at 3/1.

Match Odds

Arsenal – 3/10 (Bet365)

Draw – 9/2 (PaddyPower)

Blackburn – 12/1 (BetVictor)

Manchester United V Blackburn

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 31 December 2011 – 12:45 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

Preview

It’s top versus bottom at Old Trafford this Saturday – well, kind of – with Manchester United hosting Blackburn Rovers in a contest which pits two former Premier League champions against one another in the day’s early kick-off, shown live on ESPN from Midday.

With the club currently propping up the league down in 20th, it is easy to forget that Blackburn were once crowned Premier League champions. That was way back in 1995, when current Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish guided the Lancashire club to their third English league title. Almost two decades on and the same club find themselves rooted to the foot of the same league, where they are seemingly destined to remain heading into the New Year.

Only something extraordinary will spare Rovers the ignominy of entering the new year rock-bottom of the league, with Steve Kean’s struggling team requiring at least a point from their visit to the 19-time English champions. So then, they basically need a repeat of their Boxing Day antics which saw them somehow – and I cannot stress the ‘somehow’ part enough – hold on at Anfield to earn a share of the spoils, after playing their part in a riveting 1-1 draw.

You can get long odds on a second consecutive 1-1 draw for Blackburn. In fact, bookmaker VictorChandler make that score an 18/1 shot, which is bigger than Manchester United to win 5-0 for the third Premier League match in a row (16/1 with Ladbrokes). It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why, either.

United are in imperious form right now, as they normally are at this time of year, and this is in spite of a packed treatment room. Monday’s 5-0 thrashing of Wigan at home was made even more impressive by the fact Sir Alex Ferguson rested a whole host of key men – and was missing a fair few as well – with David de Gea, Chris Smalling, Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones among those not to feature who could return at the weekend, while star man Wayne Rooney was a second-half sub.

So it is incredibly difficult to see where on earth Blackburn can trouble their hosts, the overwhelming favourites, in a fixture which United romped to a 7-1 victory in last season, especially seeing as they are likely to be without a number of crucial defensive personnel yet again. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson is again doubtful, along with defenders Gael Givet, Ryan Nelsen and Martin Olsson, while centre-half Scott Dann is out until February.

However, confidence is high following last week’s draw with Liverpool. Stand-in keeper Mark Bunn was the star of the show, producing several stunning saves to preserve what could be a priceless away point in a notoriously tough fixture. That said, Rovers may well struggle for motivation, seeing as they start the weekend five points adrift of safety, although a point – which would appear the only feasible result at Old Trafford – could be enough to move them off the foot of the table provided Bolton don’t get a result at home to Wolves.

Ominously, though, United must beat the worst team in the top flight, Blackburn, the side with the second-most porous defence, by a minimum of five goals if they’re to enhance their claims of ending the first day of 2012 atop of the Premier League – as Man City are expected to take home maximum points from their trip to Sunderland on New Year’s Day. A third consecutive 5-0 win however just might be enough should the Citizens come a cropper.

Match Pointers

In 17 Premier League visits to Old Trafford, Blackburn have beaten Manchester United just once – a 2-1 win in September 2005, with current Rovers midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen with both goals for the visitors.

Each of the previous five top flight encounters in Manchester have gone the way of the home side, with United running out 7-1 winners last season in a game which saw Dimitar Berbatov – scorer of a hat-trick on Boxing Day at home to Wigan – net on five separate occasions.

Manchester United have now gone nine games unbeaten (W8 D1 L0) in the league following their 5-0 demolition of Wigan on Boxing Day – the second consecutive game in which they had won 5-0, after beating Fulham by that same scoreline on 21 December.

It’s now five wins on the bounce for the Red Devils, who achieved this feat by a scoring aggregate of 17-1, as well as keeping four clean sheets in the process.

During their current run of nine games without defeat, United have conceded just two goals and kept seven clean sheets.

United have won seven of nine at Old Trafford in the Premier League this campaign (W7 D1 L1), scoring 28 goals in doing so (average: 3 per home game).

Only Swansea (3) have accrued fewer points away from home this season than Blackburn (5), who have yet to record an away win after nine bites at the cherry (W0 D5 L4).

Rovers have only won two matches all season (W2 D5 L11) and are currently without a win in their last four (W0 D1 L3), though they did hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield last time out.

Blackburn haven’t kept an away clean sheet all season, conceding precisely three goals on five occasions (out of 9).

Betting

Match Winner – Has to be Manchester United. Searching for their sixth straight win in the league, United should make mincemeat of an understrength Blackburn side who invariably conceded goals for fun, particularly on their travels. Even more formidable for the visitors is the prospect of fresh legs on the opposing team-sheet, with David de Gea, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney among those who didn’t start the Boxing Day annihilation of Wigan at Old Trafford who are set to return.

First Goalscorer – It is mighty difficult to see past a United player. Wayne Rooney is an obvious favourite at 11/4 (bWin), though Dimitar Berbatov, the Bulgarian who has three in his last two starts and scored five in last season’s Old Trafford meeting with Blackburn, oozes appeal at 4/1 (bWin) – provided he starts that is, which is unlikely what with Javier Hernandez back in the first-team.

Considering the heroics of Blackburn goalkeeper Mark Bunn at Anfield, it may require something a little special to break open the Rovers floodgates, so Nani illuminates the betting at 6/1 (Ladbrokes). Chris Samba is the pick of the Blackburn bunch, with set-pieces their best avenue for a goal. The powerful defender is 12/1 (Bet365) to score any time in the game.

Correct Score – United won this fixture 7-1 last season, and WilliamHill go 100/1 on a repeat scoreline. A five-goal margin of victory will suffice for the Red Devils in their quest to finish 2011 top of the pile, so 5-0 – a scoreline they’ve won their previous two league games by, with Fulham and Wigan – has obvious appeal at 16/1 (Ladbrokes). I think it could be any number if United really apply themselves.

Match Odds

Manchester United – 1/7 SkyBet

Draw – 7/1 WilliamHill

Blackburn – 28/1 VictorChandler

Liverpool V Blackburn

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 26 December 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Anfield

Preview

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has been living on borrowed time for a while now, so quite how he remains at the helm following his team’s demoralising loss at home to relegation rivals Bolton – a result which consigned the Lancashire club to spending Christmas bottom of the Premier League – is a conundrum. But he is – somehow, to the sheer dismay of fans.

Just one team in the previous 19 seasons of the Premier League has avoided relegation after spending Christmas at the bottom of the pile. An ominous statistic for rock-bottom Blackburn, who find themselves five points adrift of safety after their 2-1 defeat to then-bottom Bolton in midweek. Even more ominous is their upcoming fixtures; on New Year’s eve they go to defending champions United at Old Trafford, but not before visiting Anfield.

Liverpool have not lost a Premier League home game all season, winning three of eight. In fact, Tottenham are the only team to have won there in 2011. Throw in this beauty: each of the previous four meetings on Merseyside have gone the way of the home side, and you see why the end is probably nigh for Rovers boss Steve Kean, whose team have yet to win away from home this season (W0 D4 L4).

Suarez & Co seek positive response

It has been a turbulent week for Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool. The FA decided to charge star man Luis Suarez for comments aimed at Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in the team’s October clash, with the Uruguayan handed an eight-match suspension. A devastating blow for a team who have relied so heavily on the attacking exploits of one of the Premier League’s star performers in 2011.

Suarez is now set to miss a large portion of Liverpool’s January and February fixtures, which, considering they have been annoyingly inconsistent all season, does not bode well in the long-term as the Reds target a top-four finish. The ban doesn’t come into affect until the New Year though, which means ‘El Pistolero’ is available to face hapless Blackburn on Boxing Day.

With or without their new-found talisman, Liverpool have struggled to add some continuity to their results this season. Wednesday’s frustrating goalless draw at Wigan being the latest prime example, with the Reds yet again spurning numerous scoring opportunities to drop crucial points, as they did at home to Norwich, Sunderland and Swansea earlier in the term. A repeat against basement occupants Blackburn is unthinkable, surely.

End is nigh for Rovers chief

If losing at home to a side who had previously lost 13 out of 16 in the league wasn’t enough to lose him his job, Blackburn fans will be hoping successive defeats away to Liverpool and Manchester United will finally prompt the club’s passive owners to yield the axe on a man despised by the Ewood Park faithful.

I am of course talking about Steve Kean, the defiant Glaswegian who refuses to throw in the towel despite being bloodied and bruised and with seemingly nothing left to give. Tuesday’s defeat to Bolton – on home soil – really should have been the last straw. It wasn’t, though, and I have absolutely no idea why.

If anything the performances are getting worse. They didn’t start at all well on Tuesday, falling behind after six minutes, and duly got what they deserved, which was nothing in terms of points. It was their third consecutive defeat – all of them bizarrely by 2-1 scorelines – and another lethargic start from Rovers at Anfield could see them on the wrong end of a massacre, especially seeing as they are missing several key defenders – a defence, may I add, that has shipped 39 goals in just 17 games.

Match Pointers

- Liverpool have triumphed in each of the previous four Premier League meetings on Merseyside, with their last defeat in this fixture coming a little over 18 years ago, back in 1993.

- Kenny Dalglish’s team have only tasted defeat once in their their last 12 Premier League matches (W6 D5 L1), but they were held to a frustrating goalless draw away to Wigan in midweek.

- The Reds are without defeat at home all season, though they have only won three of eight at Anfield (W3 D5 L0).

- No team has conceded fewer goals than Liverpool (13), who have so far kept seven clean sheets – including in each of their previous three matches.

- Blackburn dropped to 20th (bottom) following their 2-1 reverse at home to Bolton during the week, with Rovers now five points adrift of safety after a run of three straight defeats.

- Steve Kean’s side have yet to record an away win this season (W0 D4 L4), conceding over two goals per away game on average – 19 in total from eight.

- Rovers have conceded precisely three goals on five occasions on their travels, doing so at Aston Villa, Newcastle, Norwich, Stoke and Wigan, who are all what you might call ‘lesser sides’ than Liverpool.

Betting

Prediction: Liverpool to WIN – 2/7 Ladbrokes

‘Sooner or later we will record a handsome victory’. You could argue Kenny Dalglish is beginning to sound like a broken record, but he does have a point. His team somehow manage to dominate sides, create a bountiful of chances, and yet still end up either edging out teams or failing to win entirely. There is absolutely no problem with the levels of creativity at the club; players who can stick the ball in the back of the net however are evidentially at a premium.

Liverpool’s scoring exploits don’t even compare with their rivals, despite boasting a wealth of creative riches. Nevertheless, you have to give them perfect marks for perseverance, as they continue to carve out openings every single game, regardless of the opponent. Well, their opponent this time round just so happens to be hapless Blackburn, a team propping up the table in 20^th and with one of the leakiest back-lines around.

I see this going one way and one way only, and that’s handsomely in favour of the home side. Despite frustrating so many at home this season by drawing games you would ordinarily expect them to win comfortably, Liverpool should go to town on sorry Blackburn. Chances have invariably found their way past an often despairing Paul Robinson in the Rovers goal, so this could be a case of Suarez & Co helping themselves.

Value Bet: Liverpool to Score 4 or More – 3/1 PaddyPower

Match Odds

Liverpool – 2/7 Ladbrokes

Draw – 9/2 Bet365

Blackburn – 14/1 VictorChandler

Blackburn V West Brom

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 17 December 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Ewood Park

Preview

Just two league wins all season and with safety now four-points out of reach following their ninth defeat of the campaign, the last thing disgruntled Blackburn fans wanted to see were reports of a financial crisis at the club in the national newspapers. The Lancashire club reportedly owe £10million to Barclay’s Bank, although the owner’s have moved quickly disperse any murmurings of a crisis – though crisis is the only way to describe their team’s predicament.

Even I am growing tired of defending Blackburn and Steve Kean, who surely doesn’t have much longer to turn things around. I have never been Kean’s biggest fan, in all honesty, with his lack of credentials there for all to see, but his team have looked half-decent at times this season. However, 10 points from 15 games should speak for itself, with Rovers now four-points off safety and just one above rock-bottom Bolton.

Last week’s 2-1 reverse at Sunderland condemned them to their ninth defeat of the season, this despite leading for the best part of an hour only to concede twice in the closing stages. Should their losses reach double figures this weekend, when West Brom pay them a visit at Ewood Park, then it may well be Steve Kean’s last. Though we have uttered something very similar on several occasions this season.

Rovers’ two wins this season did come at home, though, where they were 4-2 victors over Swansea last time out there. And they have every right to fancy their chances against the team who succumbed at home to lowly Wigan last weekend.

West Brom were odds-on to overcome Wigan at home last Saturday – and that was before they took the lead midway through the first half courtesy of a stunning free-kick from full-back Steven Reid. So it remains a mystery as to how they lost that fixture, with goals either side of the half-time interval enough to sink the Baggies – on their own soil, too.

The loss to Wigan was West Brom’s eighth of the campaign, just one shy of Blackburn’s tally, and left them three points above the relegation zone. A second quick-fire defeat – what would be their third in four games – is unlikely to consign them to a spell in the bottom three, but they won’t want to be any closer to it than they already are. So victory is almost a must for the visitors, who have won six of their 26 Premier League away games since the start of the 2010/11 season.

Injuries are part and parcel with this time of the year, but Blackburn’s injury woes are beginning to stack. Gael Givet, Jason Lowe and Michael Salgado are all doubtful in defence, a defence which has yet to keep a clean sheet, while midfield duo David Hoilett and Ruben Rochina both failed fitness tests ahead of last week’s Sunderland game but should come into contention for West Brom. Vince Grella and Ryan Nelsen remain out injured.

In contrast, Baggies manager Roy Hodgson has a fully strength to choose from bar Zolton Gera, the Hungarian who has been ruled out for the remainder of the term. Last season’s top goalscorer Peter Odemwingie will partner the current leading marksmen at the club, Shane Lone, in attack as the Midlands side try to add to their meagre tally of 7 away goals this season.

Statistics

Blackburn

Position: 19th

Form: LDLWL

Win-Draw-Lose: 2-4-9 (Home: 2-0-5)

Goals For & Against: 22-34 (Home: 10-15)

Top Scorer: Yakubu (9)

- Blackburn did the double over West Brom in the league last season, winning 3-1 on the road and 2-0 at Ewood Park.

- Rovers have never lost a Premier League home game versus West Brom, winning two of five (W2 D3 L0).

- After 15 league games, Blackburn are still to keep a clean sheet; only Bolton (36) in 20th have shipped more goals than Steve Kean’s side (34).

- There has yet to be a drawn fixture at Ewood Park so far this season, with Blackburn winning two and losing five of their seven home games thus far.

- Striker Yakubu is Blackburn’s leading goalscorer this season, netting 6 of his 9 league goals at Ewood Park.

West Brom

Position: 15th

Form: LWLDL

Win-Draw-Lose: 4-3-8 (Away: 2-2-3)

Goals For & Against: 14-23 (Away: 7-12)

Top Scorer: Shane Lone (5)

- West Brom have failed to win any of the previous five Premier League meetings at Ewood Park versus Blackburn, with their last away win over the Lancashire club dating back to 1991.

- The Baggies have conceded a first half goal in each of their last five away matches.

- Shane Long has scored five times for West Brom in the league since joining in the summer, three coming away from The Hawthorns.

Betting

Yet another colossal encounter for Blackburn, their third in a row following tussles with Swansea and Sunderland. Having failed to win any of their last three, you could argue West Brom are there for the taking – but this is Blackburn, a side who don’t take anyone to the cleaner’s. Plus the Baggies can be extremely resolute and resilient when they want to, hence why I see a lot of value in the visitors springing a mini surprise at Ewood Park.

When Blackburn aren’t scoring four at home – doing so on two occasions against Arsenal and Swansea, both in victories – then they are struggling to score any at all. In five of their seven league games at Ewood Park, Rovers have scored one goal or fewer – and more times than not it was fewer. Combine this with the fact they have the second most porous defence in the Premier League and you can see why they sit second bottom.

So, basically any team who can defend are instantly value, but especially a potent Baggies outfit who do pose a serious threat in the final third themselves through Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long. Plus Blackburn could be missing any number of key players, particularly defensively. Looks a no-brainer to me.

Prediction: West Brom to WIN – 9/4 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: Shane Long & Peter Odemwingie Both To Score – 11/1 SkyBet

Match Odds

Blackburn – 11/8 888Sport

Draw – 5/2 WilliamHill

West Brom – 9/4 Ladbrokes

Stoke City V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 26 November 2011 – 12:45 GMT

Venue: Brittania Stadium

Preview

Blackburn Rovers have been in free-fall ever since the season began, but to see Stoke suffering has come as a major surprise. What it does do, though, is make for an intriguing contest when the two sides rendezvous for the seventh time in the Premier League on Saturday – and it is Stoke seeking to maintain the upper hand, having won four of the previous six encounters, including the three staged at the Brittania.

It wasn’t that long ago Stoke could do no wrong. In fact, there was a stage when folk were talking up their chances of a possible fifth or sixth place finish in the league. But it is no coincidence that their slide in form has coincided with their first ever participation in the UEFA Europa League – a competition many were tipping them to qualify for again next season with a possible fifth of sixth place league finish, but one that does have its fair share of drawbacks.

There is no doubt plying in Europe takes its toll on any squad. Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson would definitely concur. It’s one of the reasons why their clubs, Arsenal and Man Utd, recruit in such large numbers, to handle the large quantity of games each season. Europe caught Stoke by surprise, a pleasant one at that, and that meant their fairly average-sized squad was always going to be susceptible to fatigue over the course of the season – though few would have predicted all those air miles would have such an adverse affect so quickly.

Long, arduous trips to the Ukraine and Israel during the months of September and November have clearly taken their toll, as their league form in between has been atrocious. They’ve only won once in eight Premier League matches, six of those being defeats, while it speaks volumes that their solitary success came straight off the back of an international break, at home to Fulham on 15 October.

It would appear the Potters look forward to internationals more than any other side, as it’s about the only time they get a breather. Hoping to capitalise on Stoke’s gruelling schedule is Blackburn manager Steve Kean, whose side are floundering in the relegation zone and whose job hangs by the slimmest of proverbial threads.

Although last week’s 3-3 draw at Wigan epitomised Blackburn’s hunger and spirit, having fought back to earn a hard-fought point with a last-gasp winner that came courtesy of a Yakubu penalty that was earned by none other than goalkeeper Paul Robinson, it doesn’t change their complexion much. If anything, their situation has only become more dire.

Blackburn’s failure to win in the league for the seventh match running, since their unforgettable 4-3 success over Arsenal at Ewood Park on 17 September, leaves them with a four-point deficit they must bridge if they’re to claw themselves back onto safe footing. In more simpler terms, Rovers go into the weekend four points off safety. So there is no chance whatsoever of Rovers’ miserable spell in the bottom three coming to an end any time soon.

There is, however, some good news for supporters. Your team are playing well, even if they aren’t securing the right results to back up their endeavours on the pitch, while the return of several key players will be a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s clash with out of sorts Stoke, whose recent form is far more woeful than theirs. Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen and Martin Olsson could all feature at the Brittania after missing last week’s draw at Wigan through injury, although David Dunn is suspended.

Furthermore, Rovers have found more fortune on their travels of late than at home – which isn’t a surprise when you consider every home game at Ewood Park is like a circus these days, with fans protesting before, during and after every home match. Steve Kean’s side are unbeaten in three on the road, all draws mind, scoring three in both their previous two. The latter does bode well seeing as Stoke have shipped that very same number of goals in their previous two home Premier League games, both in defeat, too.

Match Pointers

- Four of their six Premier League meetings were won by Stoke, whom have triumphed in each of the previous three, home and away. The Potters have also won all three encounters at the Brittania, without conceding either.

- Stoke City are in free-fall and are plummeting down the Premier League table at a rate of knots, to the point where they now reside in 14th after a run of four successive defeats.

- Tony Pulis’ side have won only once in eight league matches (W1 D1 L6), losing their previous two home fixtures to Newcastle (1-3) and QPR (2-3).

- In their last four league games (all defeats), Stoke have shipped a combined total of 14 goals but managed only four themselves.

- All four of Jonathan Walters’ Premier League goals this season were scored at the Brittania Stadium, where he has netted in four of Stoke’s last five league matches.

- Blackburn begin the weekend four points adrift of safety and only one above rock-bottom Wigan Athletic, with Rovers still searching for their first league win since their 4-3 defeat of Arsenal at home on 17 September (their only win of the season thus far).

- Since beating Arsenal at Ewood Park, Blackburn have taken just three points from their subsequent seven league fixtures (W0 D3 L4).

- Rovers are unbeaten on their travels in three, having drawn away at Norwich (3-3), QPR (1-1) and more recently Wigan (3-3).

- Striker Yakubu and Canadian David Hoilett have netted in both of Blackburn’s previous two away matches, with the latter’s three league goals this term all coming away from home.

Betting

Even though they have had a tendency in the past to embark on miserable stretches of form, Stoke’s recent dismal spell has come as a shock. Just one win in eight in the league is disastrous form, relegation form even, and at the current rate they are accumulating points that is precisely where they are heading at this moment in time. Fittingly, Stoke face a team this weekend who are actually in the relegation zone, in third from bottom and without a win in seven Blackburn.

Normally Blackburn aren’t the sort of side I’d put much faith in at the Brittania, a venue where even the big teams tend to crumble. But Blackburn have shown plenty of heart in recent games, especially on the road, and with manager Steve Kean set to be boosted by the return of several influential figures, I sense a first win since the middle of September could be just around the corner.

To be fair, Stoke rarely come up short in the effort department. Tony Pulis’ charges invariably give 110%, particularly at home. But it is now two home defeats on the spin, after losing heavily to Newcastle and QPR, and after shipping three goals in each, it is impossible not to have reservations over the Potters in a match they should win but aren’t in the slightest bit alluring in odds to do so.

Blackburn for me, then, whose courage could secure them three colossal points at fortress Brittania.

Match Outcome: Blackburn Rovers to WIN – 4/1 Bet365

Value Bet: Draw/Blackburn (HT/FT) – 10/1 888Sport

Match Odds

Stoke City – 5/6 Coral

Draw – 11/4 WilliamHill

Blackburn Rovers – 4/1 Bet365

Wigan Athletic V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 19 November 2011 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: DW Stadium

Preview

This has been Wigan’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, while Blackburn haven’t picked up fewer points at this stage since the 1996-97 term – so what we have here is a match made in heaven as the league’s two slowest starters slug it out for three coveted points.

Separated by a single point at the foot of the league, with both having mustered just one win all season so far, Wigan (20th) and Blackburn (19^th) already find themselves stranded due to their equally lethargic openings. A win for either side would not be sufficient as to lift them out of the relegation zone, but it would be progress nonetheless; visitors Blackburn have failed to win any of their previous six while Wigan are on a retched run of eight straight defeats!

Something has to give, right? Surely one has to profit from the other? Well, these two clubs are meeting for the seventh consecutive season, and in their previous twelve encounters there have only been two draws. The most recent meeting? It was only a seven-goal spectacle, with Wigan triumphing 4-3 at the DW Stadium.

It’s also worth pointing out that these two managers, Roberto Martinez of Wigan and Steve Kean of Blackburn, head the betting for the next managerial departure. Could defeat in this very fixture be the final nail in the coffin for one of them?

Wigan

League Position: 20th

League Form: LLLLL

It would appear there are no depths Wigan won’t sink to at the minute. As if their eighth consecutive league defeat wasn’t pitiful enough, defender Antolin Alcaraz spitting on an opponent during his team’s 3-1 loss away at Wolves last time out was a despicable act that only highlighted how in disarray the Latics currently are. This was supposedly the Wigan skipper, would you believe it, and he has subsequently been banned for three games by the FA.

So, Alcaraz-less, Wigan seek a hasty revival. From going their first three games of the season unbeaten, they’ve slumped to eight defeats in a row and are now the team propping up the table. Their last was arguably the most concerning, or perhaps ominous.

To lose 3-1 away at Wolves, who themselves were in dire straits at the time, hardly inspires confidence, while it was yet another performance which epitomised their season up till now; creating chances, even using the ball to good affect at times, but woeful in front of goal and even more calamitous at the back. Had it not been for goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who has been in sensational form between the sticks for well over a year now, the margin of defeat would have been greater.

The onus on Al Habsi to keep bailing his team out of trouble is far too much and it is time the forwards eased some of the pressure by putting the ball in the net up the other end. During this dismal eight-game losing run of theirs, Wigan have plundered an embarrassing four goals – failing to score on four occasions – making them the league’s lowest scorers, on top of being the league’s poorest side in general down in 20th.

Wigan are, unfortunately, a bit of a hopeless cause at the minute. Many are already viewing their demotion back to the Championship as inevitable, and on current form it’s impossible to oppose such an argument.

Blackburn

League Position: 19th

League Form: LDLDL

Playing away from the circus that is Ewood Park is proving a blessing in disguise for Blackburn, who in their previous two away assignments could have so easily ended their winning drought. They’ll be hoping third time’s a charm when they take on rock-bottom Wigan at the DW Stadium, whom they’ve not beaten in Greater Manchester in any of the previous four seasons.

Incredibly, Blackburn have only won once this season. I say that because their performances in some matches were outstanding, deserving of maximum hauls. However, Lady Luck is not sweet on Steve Kean, the Rovers boss who is continually bombarded with desperate pleas from fans to step down from his position as first-team manager, after the club’s worst start in the top flight for 15 years, and the 44-year-old Glaswegian is unsurprisingly the bookies favourite to be the next Premier League manager out the door.

As I said, the performances have been encouraging. Very encouraging indeed. Not many will claim they competed with Chelsea and Tottenham for the full 90 minutes this season, and Blackburn certainly did that – albeit still losing both, marginally, while they really ought to taken the spoils in their most recent away encounter. A 3-3 draw at Norwich will have been tough to swallow for Steve Kean, who saw his side lead 3-1 going into the closing stages only to concede an equaliser at the death courtesy of a dubious penalty decision.

A season filled with hard-luck stories, then, for Rovers, who away from home have kept just one clean sheet in their last 24 Premier League matches. A rare shut-out would not appear likely at the weekend either, not even away at Wigan, whom have failed to net in four of their previous eight games. That’s because defenders Vince Grella, Ryan Nelsen, Michel Salgado and Cristopher Samba are rated doubtful for the trip, while full-back Jason Lowe is suspended. Scott Dann should return, though.

Match Pointers

- Wigan have won two and lost none of their previous three Premier League meetings with Blackburn at the DW, but Rovers boss the head-to-head with seven victories to Wigan’s three. There have been just two draws in their twelve meetings.

- Last season’s corresponding fixture produced a seven-goal thriller, with Wigan 4-3 victors.

- The Latics have suffered eight consecutive league defeats and subsequently prop up the league in 20^th, winning only one of their first eleven fixtures (W1 D2 L8).

- Blackburn are without a win in their last six league games, with Steve Kean’s side floundering in 19^th after also managing just one win from their first eleven (W1 D3 L7).

- Rovers have scored in each of their five away matches this season, but on four occasions it was just a solitary goal.

Betting

Clearly bookmakers are of the same opinion as me, that Blackburn have shown some encouraging signs of mounting a recovery whereas Wigan cut a despairing figure and are generally a team to avoid at all costs right now.

Physically Blackburn have always been able to compete, however their football has improved leaps and bounds this season and I can see them playing Wigan off the park in a contest where whoever makes the least amount of mistakes should profit. The Latics make far too many on a regular basis, particularly in defence, so an improving Blackburn, who do have a few accomplished individuals in the attacking third, at 2/1 looks tremendous value.

For value, Blackburn have scored precisely three goals on two of their previous four trips to Wigan in the Premier League. Coupled with Wigan having conceded that same exact number on four occasions this season, three of which were in 3-1 defeats, Blackburn to win 3-1 could be worth a punt. They really ought to have won by that scoreline in their last away fixture as well, away at Norwich.

Match Outcome: Blackburn to WIN @ 2/1 VictorChandler

Value Bet: Blackburn 3-1 (Correct Score) @ 28/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Wigan Athletic – 8/5 Boylesports

Draw – 23/10 WilliamHill

Blackburn Rovers – 2/1 VictorChandler

Queens Park Rangers V Blackburn Rovers

Date/Kick-Off: Saturday 15 October, 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)

Venue: Loftus Road

Preview

Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers will be aiming to bounce back from heavy defeats before international break came to their rescue two weeks ago when they meet at Loftus Road this weekend. Neil Warnock’s Rangers were thumped 6-0 away at Fulham – the joint-heaviest defeat of the season in the Premier League, a shared honour with Arsenal who were beaten 8-2 at Old Trafford – whereas Blackburn slumped to the heaviest home defeat of the campaign with a 4-0 loss at home to Manchester City.

For Neil Warnock, he will try and pass off the Craven Cottage annihilation as a ‘one-off’ but for Steve Kean, emphatic defeats are becoming a regular occurrence. Another on Saturday would heap further pressure on the under-fire boss, who quite clearly lacks the support of the fans even if he does reportedly have the beleaguered backing of the owners. But the omens are encouraging for the Glaswegian – Rovers dominate the Premier League head-to-head between the two, having won six of their eight meetings, and were also victorious when the pair clashed at Ewood Park in the FA Cup last January.

Queens Park Rangers

League Position: 11th

League Form: LDWDL

Just a bad day at the office? Problem is, it wasn’t the first. Rangers’ six-goal drubbing away to Fulham a fortnight ago was their second crushing defeat of the campaign, having previously lost their opening fixture 4-0 at home to Bolton, whom have since gone on to record six straight losses. The Craven Cottage debacle also came at a time when the club and its supporters are supposedly riding the crest of wave; under vibrant, new ownership, with many exciting players having arrived on transfer deadline day and with results previously satisfactory. So we await their response to this latest setback with baited breath.

Are we reading a little too much into the Fulham result? Can it merely go down as a ‘one-off’ bad performance from a side who were previously unbeaten in three and were playing some decent stuff? I’m not so sure it can. Fulham were prime for the taking. A team which hadn’t won any of their six league games before QPR paid them a visit, and whom were in Europa League action in Denmark just three days previous. The only positive to be had was the fact an international break left manager Neil Warnock with two priceless weeks to regroup and galvanise his troops.

Credit to the fans who did stick around at Craven Cottage, despite the embarrassing scoreline. But the Loftus Road faithful may not be as forgiving should their side fail to capitalise on this weekend’s generous offering of Blackburn at home – Rovers lie second from bottom in the table, have the second most porous defence in the league and are a club in dire straits, with disgruntled fans incensed with the sheer sight of Steve Kean still at the helm. However, Rangers’ home record isn’t much better – they’re still without a win at Loftus Road after three games, netting just once.

News that Kieron Dyer has suffered a setback another injury setback has hardly come as a surprise, though it’s a blow for Neil Warnock nonetheless. But… we could witness a strange twist of fate should forward Jamie Mackie make his first ever appearance in the Barclay’s Premier League this weekend, after spending the last nine months on the sidelines with a broken leg, against the team whom inflicted the damage. Mackie broke his leg in a third round FA Cup tie with Blackburn at Ewood Park back in January.

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 19th

League Form: LDWLL

Blackburn manager Steve Kean completed his routine trip to India to meet with club owners Venky’s during the international break. I’m not sure what’s worse though; the fact he took his team with him to contest a bizarrely-timed friendly with Pune FC, during what should have been a vital period of reflection following what has been one of the worst starts to a season in the club’s history, or that a man so loathed by the supporters remains at the helm of a team which under his stewardship has won only six of twenty-eight Premiership matches, and taken just 26 points from a possible 84.

It’s impossible not to be concerned about Steve Kean’s position as Blackburn Rovers manager. His credentials are non-existent, the results have been terrible on the whole, performances haven’t been that great either, while there’s mass mutiny within the supporter ranks. Quite frankly, the move to sack Sam Allardyce last December and replace him with a cheaper but unproven alternative has been an epic failure, and once Kean is booted out – which does seem a case of when and not if – it won’t be long until fans turn on the owners, who haven’t delivered on any of their audacious promises thus far.

To put it bluntly, Blackburn are a club in dire straits. Their crushing defeat at home to Manchester City last time out was their fifth of the campaign in the league. It also left them with the second leakiest defence in the top-flight, having shipped seventeen goals in total. Moreover, it was the fourth occasion this season where Rovers had conceded three or more times in a match. Throw fans are piling further pressure on the team with their public condemnation of the manager and you’re struggling to see a way out of this mess that doesn’t involve Kean being put out of his misery, or should that be the fans?

Funnily enough, I’d expect Blackburn’s better results to come on their travels what with the support at Ewood Park right now volatile to say the least. But that hasn’t been the case. Just a solitary point registered from their third road trips to Aston Villa (3-1), Fulham (1-1) and Newcastle makes for further gloomy reading, as does hearing of Kean’s away record as Blackburn chief: W2 D3 L8, GF16 GA 28. Although they have scored in each of their previous five.

Match Pointers

- Met eight times in the Premier League, the last back in 1995/96, with Blackburn dominating the head-to-head with six victories to Rangers’ one.

- Clashed in January during a third round FA Cup tie, with Blackburn Rovers narrow 1-0 victors at Ewood Park thanks to David Hoilett’s late strike.

- QPR went down 6-0 at Fulham in their last league game, but Blackburn were also beaten heavily the same weekend when succumbing to a 4-0 home reverse at the hands of Man City.

- Rangers have yet to win at home in the league this season (W0 D2 L1) managing just one goal, though Blackburn are also without a win on their travels having lost two out of three (W0 D1 L2).

Betting

Had it not been for QPR’s pitiful display at Fulham, our hosts here would have been slimmer odds, of that I have no doubt. Still, Rangers at odds-on is pretty damning, and not all that appealing either. Warnock’s team are, after all, still to record a league victory at Loftus Road this season. But can anyone find a case for Blackburn at the minute? I think I can.

As I mentioned above, playing away from home may have its benefits for Rovers, away from the growing anxiety and frustration plaguing Ewood Park at the minute. I also thought they were half-decent on their one and only visit to London so far, when holding out for a draw at Fulham – the exact same fixture QPR were hammered 6-0 in just two weeks ago. Blackburn were, however, hugely disappointing away to Newcastle in their last away assignment but it’s almost a case of now or never for Steve Kean, whose side welcome Tottenham and Chelsea to Ewood Park in the coming weeks.

This is kind of a tentative pick considering the current state of affairs at Blackburn, but if the players have any sort of affection or affinity with the manager, then they’ll recognise the significance of ending their current two-game losing streak. Another toothless display from Rangers in front of goal would also aid their cause. Draw it is.

Match Outcome: Draw @ 5/2 Bet365

Value Bet: Adel Taarabt First Goalscorer @ 7/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Queens Park Rangers – 10/11 Ladbrokes

Draw – 5/2 Bet365

Blackburn Rovers – 18/5 VictorChandler

Blackburn Rovers V Manchester City

Date/Kick-Off: Saturday, 1st October 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)

Venue: Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 18th

League Form: LLDWL

An exciting period for Blackburn fans starts with Saturday’s home clash with Manchester City, whom they’ve not beaten for over four-years, before tantalising contests, at home, with Chelsea and Tottenham after the international break.

A mouthwatering prospect then for the Ewood Park faithful, but not for Blackburn themselves, who after going down handsomely at Newcastle last week, find themselves reacquainted with the relegation places.

Their record at St James Park was actually very good – they had won on each of their previous five league visits – but you would never have known. A 3-1 loss was as comprehensive as it gets as Blackburn failed to capitalise on the momentum and confidence that was supposedly gained from their sensational comeback victory over Arsenal the time before, when scoring four at Ewood Park in 4-3 triumph, slumping to their fourth defeat of the campaign.

The result leaves Steve Kean’s men languishing inside the relegation zone and in urgent need of a result this weekend if they’re to avoid spending the next fortnight in the bottom-three. Yet their chances would appear slim, despite home advantage. Rovers have failed to win any of their previous three league meetings with Man City at Ewood Park, including defeats in the last two, while they’ve not won back-to-back matches at home since January.

However, City’s turmoil could be Blackburn’s gain. Furthermore, manager Steve Kean will have two key players available for Saturday’s game with Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Goodwillie back from injury, although Martin Olsson will serve a one-game suspension for seeing red in last week’s Newcastle for two bookable offences. David Dunn is doubtful while Ryan Nelsen is a definite absentee.

Manchester City

League Position: 2nd

League Form: WWWDW

Just where do we start with Manchester City? Their dismal showing in Munich on Tuesday, where they were comprehensively beaten by a classy and superior Bayern Munich team at the Allianz Arena? Or how about the highly controversial Carlos Tevez, the Argentine striker who in the summer desperately wanted out of Eastlands and on Tuesday, in Munich, refused to partake in the game after manager Roberto Mancini asked him to come on midway through the second period. There is no shortage of talking points.

There really were some incredible scenes on Tuesday. And it is no exaggeration when I say Manchester City are a club in utter disarray at this moment in time. The dressing room has rarely been an harmonious one but Tevez’s action, which sparked Mancini into saying the Argentine was ‘finished’ as far as his City career as concerned, are a new low and only overshadowed what was a dreadful team performance on the pitch in a pivotal Champions League encounter.

Now there are huge question marks hanging over City, especially as Tevez wasn’t the only one to voice his opinion on the night. Edin Dzeko was furious when he was substituted early in the second half and it would appear the Bosnian, who exchanged words with Mancini on the touchline, will find himself overlooked for City’s new few games, including this weekend’s trip to Lancashire, which is a shame really as not only has he looked sharp this season but it was his goal which settled last season’s contest between the two sides at Ewood Park

The Tevez saga will run and run, which can only be a bad thing as City prepare for their first league game away from Manchester since their capitulation at Craven Cottage, when squandering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Fulham last month. I suspect there will be a few notable omissions from the squad while I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Kolo Toure back on the bench. The Ivorian started in Munich in place of Joleon Lescott, who had formed a decent centre-back partnership with Vincent Kompany I thought, in a bizarre move from Mancini which many feel clearly backfired.

Match Pointers

- Manchester City have won four and lost none of last seven league meetings with Blackburn, whose last Premiership win over the Citizens came in 2007.

- Blackburn have won four of their fourteen Premiership home matches under manager Steve Kean (W4 D5 L5).

- Rovers begin the weekend inside the relegation zone after winning just one of their first six in the league, losing four.

- City remain unbeaten in league competition this season, winning five of six, but drew their last away matche 2-2 with Fulham.

Betting Verdict

Unsurprisingly, the midweek turn of events have influenced the odds for this game. Because of the way Blackburn were brushed aside by Newcastle last week, on the same weekend Manchester City grounded out an impressive win at home to a spirited and dogged Everton, I would expect to see the Citizens, with their vastly superior squad, around the 1/2 mark. So, at odds of 8/13, I’m delighted with the odds I’m getting on the visitors, who should be far too strong in every department at Ewood Park, where they’ve triumphed on their last two visits.

There is definitely disharmony in camp, there’s no hiding from that quite apparent factor, but after their pathetic showing in Germany I reckon City will feel they have a point to prove this weekend, and sorry Blackburn could be on the receiving end of some pent-up Citizen frustration.

Match Prediction: Manchester City to WIN – 8/13 WilliamHill

Value Bet: Man City HT/FT – 6/4 Boylesports

Match Odds

Blackburn Rovers – 11/2 Ladbrokes

Draw – 16/5 StanJames

Manchester City – 8/13 WilliamHill

Fulham V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 11 September 2011 (16:00 GMT)

Venue: Craven Cottage

TV Coverage: LIVE on SKY SPORTS 1

Preview

So far it has been a season to forget for Fulham and Blackburn, two of eight sides who are still to register their first win of 2011/12, and no doubt both will have appreciated the recent time-out from domestic affairs due to recent internationals, a period of reflection perhaps, but who, if any, will come back revitalised?

The smart money will be on the hosts, a Fulham team who have an incredible record on their own patch in 2011 – Liverpool are the only Premier League side to have overhauled the Cottagers at Craven Cottage since the turn of the year in a highly impressive ten-game sequence comprising of six wins, nineteen goals and a staggering seven clean sheets.

Blackburn last triumphed away to Fulham three seasons ago, having lost on each of their last two visits shipping three goals in both. The omens are not promising a successful return to West London either, with Steve Kean’s side having made a truly retched start to the campaign with three successive defeats, all against sides the Rovers boss would have tipped his team to get something from: Wolves (h) L 1-2, Aston Villa (a) L 3-1 and Everton (h) L 0-1, the latter Rovers spurning two glorious opportunities to go ahead from the spot, emphasising that luck is most definitely not on their side, nor confidence for that matter.

Rovers have now won only five times in the league under Steve Kean, and just twice away from home, so it’s fair to say that the Scot isn’t the fans favourite person right now. The under-fire Blackburn boss will be pinning his hopes on his deadline captures bedding in as quickly as possible then, with Scott Dann and Yakubu set to be handed their débuts on Saturday at Craven Cottage in a match the club can ill afford to lose else run the risk of ending the weekend rock-bottom; they’re already languishing down in 19th without a single point to their name.

Meanwhile Fulham, who do at least have a point to their name, although it is just the solitary point, will also field a few new faces. One who has the potential to light up Craven Cottage for years to come is Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz, last season’s top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie with 24 goals as well as someone with valuable Champions League experience under his belt. The 26-year-old set the club back just over £10Mil but looks an exciting proposition, a player equally adept in the air as he is on the ground despite not being the tallest, but also someone with genuine ingenuity and imagination in the final third that will help the Cottagers prize open opposing defences.

Former Juventus and Czech Republic international Zdenek Grygera also arrived on the final day of the transfer window, the experienced 31-year-old seemingly a ready-made replacement for injured full-back John Arne Riise.

Match Pointers

Met 20 times in Premier League – Fulham winning 5 to Blackburn’s 10.

It’s honours-even at Craven Cottage after ten PL meetings, with 4 wins each.

Blackburn lost just two of previous ten league clashes with Fulham, however that does include a 3-2 loss in West London last term.

Fulham lost last three matches in all competitions, conjuring up just one goal in that disappointing spell.

The Cottagers, though, have lost just one of last ten at home in league (W6 D3 L1), keeping seven clean sheets.

Rovers won only 5 of 24 PL games under Steve Kean, and just 2 of 11 on the road.

Betting Verdict

Hardly a fixture to get excited about is this between two of the league’s slow starters, Fulham and Blackburn. The Cottagers are favourites for one reason and one reason only, their incredible recent record in West London of just one defeat in their last ten Premiership matches, and that does include a staggering seven clean sheets. However, Martin Jol has overseen just one game at Craven Cottage, a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, so it isn’t as though he can claim any credit for Fulham’s home form.

Negating their form at home is Fulham’s current run of two successive defeats, although Blackburn can better that with a 100% record in the losses column. Rovers are still to collect their first points but manager Steve Kean, who bolstered his ranks with the astute signings of Scott Dann from Birmingham and Yakubu from Everton, is happy with the way his team are playing and strongly believe the rewards for their positive displays on the pitch are just around the corner. They’ll do well to leave West London with maximum points but a hard-earned draw certainly isn’t beyond them.

Match Prediction: Draw – 13/5 Bet365

Value Bet: 0-0 Correct Score – 9/1 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Fulham – 8/11 Coral

Draw – 13/5 Bet365

Blackburn – 9/2 VictorChandler

Aston Villa V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 20th August 2011; 15:00 GMT
Venue: Villa Park

Preview

Having met on no fewer than nine occasions in the last two seasons alone, Aston Villa and Blackburn should know all there is to know about each other ahead of Saturday’s Villa Park clash. They’re probably sick of the sight of each other as well. Villa, though, are the team in the ascendancy, searching for their fourth consecutive home win over the Lancashire side, whom they netted ten goals against at Villa Park during the 2010/2011 season following 3-1 wins in the Carling Cup and FA Cup, as well as a comfortable 4-1 triumph in the league.

If their recent duels are anything to go by, we should be treated to a fair few goals. That would certainly make for a pleasant change, as neither set the world alight on the opening day of the season last weekend: Aston Villa earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Fulham while Blackburn failed to capitalise on home advantage, going down 2-1 to Wolves.

In Aston Villa’s defence, a 0-0 draw away at Fulham was a creditable result, although it could have so easily been different had it not been for the keeping heroics of Shay Given. The Cottagers, though, are always a tough nut to crack on home, so the point was one not to be sniffed at. However, what will have concerned Alex McLeish was the lack of goalscoring opportunities his team created in West London – just six in total, and only one of which was on target.

It is pretty clear that Villa are still adapting to life without influential wingers Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, who between them had a hand in over half of the 48 goals the team scored last season. A lot is expected from the club’s big summer signing though, Frenchman Charles N’Zogbia. The former Wigan winger set the club back £9.5M during the summer and is tipped to form a deadly partnership with the club’s biggest asset, England striker Darren Bent.

We shouldn’t dismiss what Marc Albrighton could potentially bring to the table this season, after he starred on numerous occasions in the Villa first-team last season out on the right-hand side of midfield, using his quick turn-of-foot to beat his defensive marker to the byline. If he improves his final delivery than the 21-year-old could be one to watch out for in 2011/2012.

Blackburn, meanwhile, well they could certainly do with an exciting prospect or two. Steve Kean’s side endured a retched start to the new season – a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Wolves, who avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth just a few months ago. But it was Wolves who created by far and away the clearer openings, in particular down the left, as Mick McCarthy pinpointed Michel Salgado’s lack of pace at right-back as a possible weakness (or should I say very apparent weakness) – something which Villa, who do boast two lightening quick wingers, will also look to exploit on Saturday.

Betting

As mentioned above, these two teams have clashed on numerous occasions in recent years, the majority of those being won by Aston Villa, including the previous three contests at Villa Park by an overwhelming aggregate of 10-3.

Last season’s league encounter at Villa Park was comfortably won by the home side, 4-1. If Blackburn fail to keep Villa’s nippy wing duo of N’Zogbia and Albrighton quiet then another emphatic defeat could be on the cards for Steve Kean’s men, as I’m hardly inspired by their attack.

Rovers’ forward options include Benjani, Mauro Formica, David Goodwillie and Jason Roberts. I’m not sure what positive qualities any of those bring to the table; Formica – some sprightly movement? Roberts – brute strength, surely? Benjani – comedy value?!!

The home side are justifiably favourites in my opinion, and at 4/5 look decent value. I’m not discounting a Blackburn victory, just because this is the Premier League and Rovers aren’t all bad… I suppose. However, a draw would be a fantastic result for the visitors, who are handsome odds of 5/1 to defy footballing logic. 

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 4/5 Coral
Draw – 5/2 SkyBet
Blackburn Rovers – 5/1 Boylesports

Verdict

He won countless honours during his heyday with Real Madrid and probably could have walked into most sides. However, surely any team who starts with 35-year-old Michel Salgado has to be opposed, especially when the team in question is up against genuine pace on the flanks.

As if Charles N’Zogbia needs an excuse to surge past full-backs, the Frenchman will be doubly determined to impress the locals this weekend upon his home début. Salgado should make him look an absolute world beater, as he does for most wingers. Shay Given will also want another clean sheet on his home début for the club, while Marc Albrighton will be keen to impress as well. Darren Bent is never happy unless he’s on the scoresheet. Just far too much to like about Villa to ignore them, even at a shade of odds-on.

Match Prediction: Aston Villa WIN – 4/5 Coral
Value Bet: Charles N’Zogbia First Goalscorer – 17/2 Bet365