Stoke City V Blackburn Rovers

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

Stoke City V Blackburn Rovers

Saturday, 2nd October – 15:00 GMT
Venue: The Brittania

Stoke City

League Position: 14th
League Form: WDWLL

I’m sure there will be many punters sprinting out of various dark corners with audacious claims of ‘I knew the combative Potters would bounce back sooner or later’. We, though, feared the worst at one stage although can patently see exactly why every team in the Premier League these days fears a 90 minute spell with Stoke City. Not only are they an intimidating bunch to look but they’re extremely tenacious, something manager Tony Pulis wouldn’t have any other way.

Bounce back ability is a characteristic few sides really boast but Stoke City have that in abundance. Opening the campaign with three successive defeats would rot most side’s morale and confidence from the inside but not Stoke, not a team so battle hardened and gusty that I would actually go as far as to say they thrive off adversity. If there’s a point to be proven, a disappointing run which needs correcting or a poor performance n the pitch which needs resurrecting, Stoke are always up for the challenge. Three opening defeats was answered by a three-match run without a single loss, picking up seven points from a possible nine and thus lifting them away from the doom and gloom of relegation and into the more sunnier heights of mid-table.

Thing really are starting to look much brighter at Stoke City, but how long will that last? While the Potters are renowned for their indestructible qualities, they’ve never been one for positive streaks. During the two and a bit seasons Stoke have been involved with the Premier League, seven games is the longer they’ve gone unbeaten. A run which came about right at the beginning of the year, strangely enough off the back of three successive league losses, and you get the feeling that Tony Pulis need to somehow bottle this new confidence around the Brittania before it wears off, because it will.

Next up for Stoke City, their last league fixture for two weeks, is a home encounter against a side not too dissimilar to themselves in Blackburn Rovers. And the omens are good, very good in fact, as Stoke boast a 100% record at home to Blackburn in the league, a run they’ll be eager but confident of continuing especially with the prolific scoring form of Kenwyn Jones up front, who has now scored in all four games he’s played in as a Stoke City player this season. Ricardo Fuller, though is a doubt, as is winger Jermaine Pennant.

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 9th
League Form: WDDLL

It has been impressive stuff up till now from Blackburn, quickly recovering from two early defeats to bounce back with a three-match streak without loss. That’s the Blackburn we all know and love, kinda, and with one away victory already in the bag at just their second attempt, Rovers will go in search of their second in successive weekend, a feat they’ve not achieved since March 2009.

Much like their opposite numbers, Blackburn are a resilient bunch, a group who just don’t know when they’re beaten, and with that we should be in for a decent encounter on Saturday. Then again, if Sam Allardyce has his wicked way then perhaps we won’t. ‘Big Sam’ is a cut-throat manager, it’s one of the reason we love him in all fairness, and he’ll be doing whatever it takes to successful plot Stoke’s downfall on Saturday, even if it means sacrificing El-Hadji Diouf’s harmonious reputation.

Blackburn are about to embark upon a three-match unbeaten run should they repel the Potters at The Brittania this weekend. Although, funnily enough, that won’t be all too an unfamiliar occurrence as Blackburn enjoyed a hat-trick of unbeaten league games on four occasions last season, suggesting there’s every chance of them holding their own at The Brittania, in case any of you doubted as Rovers side just as combative and stubborn as Stoke City. However, we’re having big problems picturing Blackburn winning two away games on the trot. With the exception of Fulham, I don’t recollect a poorer travelling outfit that Blackburn Rovers, certainly not in recent years, excluding the sides which flirt with promotion every other season.

Last weekend Blackburn produced a stirring display to overhaul England’s newest football love Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. It was the best performance we’ve seen from Rovers in an away fixture for quite some time, really going at the Tangerines right from the word ‘go’, not afraid to play the attacking game rather than their usual tepid and defensive manner like many away fixtures they set themselves up for, and their persistence inside the penalty area seen them rewarded with two rather fortunate goals. Alladryce clearly felt the game was their to be won and went for it. Whether he will be quite so courageous and gun-ho at The Brittania stadium is a different matter altogether, although, they will certainly give it all they’ve got; there will be no let up and certainly no backing down from Blackburn Rovers, not if ‘Big Sam’ has anything to do with it.

Match Prediction: Stoke City to WIN – 2.38 SkyBet

While these two maybe similar in style and how they set themselves up, Stoke still stand head and shoulder above Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers. The latter have this tendency to go missing in visits to average clubs, and by that I mean anyone outside of the top eight or so. Rovers are second to none are gearing themselves up and thriving off the underdog status in matches but when it comes to clashes against the teams in and around them, they tend to falter away from more. They were also beaten quite emphatically on their last visit to The Brittania, a 3-0 defeat back in February and although Rovers are on the verge of a rare feat of back-to-back away victories in the league, we fully expect Stoke to spoil the party.

Highlighted Bets:

Over/Under: Under 2.5 Goals – 1.80 SkyBet
First Goalscorer: Kenwyn Jones – 7.00 SkyBet
Correct Score: 2-0 Stoke City – 12.00 SkyBet

Match Odds:

Stoke City – 2.38 SkyBet
Draw – 3.30 totesport
Blackburn Rovers – 3.30 Boylesports

Stoke City V Blackburn Rovers

Saturday, 6^th February – 15:00 GMT

Stoke City

League Position: 12th

Recent Form: LLWDD 

After shaky December, Tony Pulis has steadied the Stoke ship and has now guided The Potters to a three game run without defeat in the Premiership. Amply accompanied by a fruitful run in the FA Cup. The players appeared as though they could be losing their way in terms of organisation and discipline on the field, but their latest display was a lesson in how to make things as difficult as possible for your opponents and Stoke are the masters of that. 

Stoke didn’t really even have to battle on Monday night when they held Sunderland to a 0-0 draw at The Stadium of Light. The game was a dull affair, which was to be expected, with chances few and far betwee, but the point will be seen as a very good point on Stoke’s behalf and they can now travel back home with a smile on their faces as they return to what has been a happy hunting ground for the Potters this season, with five of their six league victories come there. They were, however, held in their last home fixture, a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in which they were fortunate to claim a point, but expect nothing less than a roaring reception for the Stoke players from their fans as the faithful roar their side on to what will hopefully be Stoke’s sixth home win of the campaign.

Tony Pulis wasn’t a busy man in January and so no new exciting new faces will emerge at The Brittania, although the exception being Asmir Begovic from Portsmouth. A signing which won’t have the fans in raptures. In fact, Pulis did well just to keep hold of some of his prized assets – James Beattie being one of them, although the former England front man has fallen out of favour with the Gaffer since their bust up and has barely had a look in since. Instead, Ricardo Fuller, a striker with an abundance of strength and an awkward customer for any defence. However, even with Fuller now getting the special treatment from Pulis, Stoke are still lacking goals, even at home, with the Potters finding the net on just 19 occasions this season. 15, though, have come at The Brittania so they are more accomplished in front of goal at home rather than away from their comfort zone.

In our eyes, Stoke are the firm favourites as they are one of the toughest cookies around when playing on their own patch. They don’t give their opponents any time on the ball. They give you a tonne of hassle for the full 90 minutes and they seem to find their feet a lot faster in home games, which might be why they’ve scored far more goals at home than away this season. The only problem when backing Stoke is guessing where the goals will come from, which is a fools game when doing so with Stoke. Just about everyone has chipped in with a goal meaning everyone has played a pivotal role for Stoke this season and it’s been a team effort as to why they occupy such a healthy position – 12^th.

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: DLWWD 

Sam Allardyce has now guided Blackburn to a mini unbeaten run after three games unbeaten, their latest being a 0-0 draw with relegation threatened West Ham on Saturday, Since the turn of the year, Rovers have lost just once in the league and have picked up seven points from a possible twelve. The points are finally coming in thick and fast for this hard working club and now they’ve been presented with another prosperous fixture, a tough one nevertheless, away at Stoke City at The Brittania. ‘Fortress Britannia’ as the natives like to call it. 

This recent good run of results for Blackburn has seen them rise several places in the table and enforce an seven point gap between themselves and the bottom three, with Rovers no longer part of the stragglers association. However, a seven point cushion can easily decrease with a few bad results and complacency could now kick in as Blackburn enter unfamiliar terrain. The Brittania won’t be that much of a problem for Rovers, although they were narrowly beaten 1-0 there last season, but more about this run of theirs. 

No, it’s actually this run of good form which concerns us as where some clubs would see such a run as a platform to build upon, Rovers may go in the complete opposite direction as they aren’t used to such a feat. In fact, Blackburn have now equalled their longest unbeaten spell in the league for the season after they previously went three games without losing from the end of November to mid December. However, their fourth clash seen Rovers fall foul to defeat and the pattern of form back then is identical to their current one. Before Rovers relinquished their unbeaten tag at the fourth hurdle back in December, Blackburn had previously earned a 0-0 draw away at Hull City. Rovers were then beaten in their very next away outing at Birmingham and the same feat could occur on Saturday as Blackburn drew their recent league game 0-0 away from home at West Ham United – A team in close proximity to Hull City, a team they drew 0-0 with before they lost their next fixture back in December.  

The voodoo above could be nonsense and perhaps just a coincidence but the fact remains that Blackburn aren’t used to going this long without losing a game and shades of complacency could creep into their play at The Brittania. Moreover, Rovers have generally been very poor travellers this season and this factor is highlighted in their abysmal away record of 1-3-8, with Rovers losing nearly 2/3 of their away encounters this season. Also, their away goal difference of 8-28 highlights their away flaws even further, with their 8 away goals scored up their in terms of the worst away ‘Goals For’ in the league.

Match Verdict: Stoke City to WIN – 2.25 Boylesports

Stoke just seem to come alive at The Brittania, with the fans especially outstanding in roaring them on towards a victory. Were it not for their impressive results, or their equally impressive performances, at The Brittania then Stoke would be in a far more precarious position than they currently are. For the time being they are sitting rather cosily in 12^th position and we fancy their chances on Saturday of reinforcing their mid-table stance by putting Blackburn to the sword right from the off. A robust and hard working Stoke City get the nod in this contest.

Match Odds:

Stoke City – 2.25 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Blackburn Rovers – 3.30 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Stoke City to WIN to NIL – 3.50 SkyBet