Preview: Blackburn Rovers - Everton
Posted Saturday, April 17, 2010 by
Toffees must claim three points at Ewood to maintain European hopes...
Kick-off: Saturday, April 17, 15:00 BST
Ewood Park, Blackburn
Holding title-chasing Manchester United to a goalless draw is no easy task but it is a result befitting Blackburn's form at their Ewood Park home, where they have lost just once in the last 17 fixtures. The point against the champions last Sunday further secured Rovers' position wedged comfortably in mid-table, and it appears manager Sam Allardyce is slowly beginning to turn the Lancashire club into a solid top division outfit after a relegation battle at the end of last season. Rovers have already accrued two more points than their total last term, and the club will be looking to build for the next campaign
Meanwhile Everton, after being stymied by crippling injuries in the first half of the season, have crept up the table and onto the shoulder of seventh-placed Aston Villa. The Villans were their opponents in midweek, and a 2-2 draw did little to help the European football aspirations of either club.
Manager David Moyes will be disappointed his side threw away the lead late on in that game and knows hopes of Europa League football next season are fading fast after the tempering of their relentless march up the table by three successive draws. Leaving Ewood Park with three points is crucial if the Toffees are to plug the four-point gap between themselves and seventh place in the table.
Blackburn have gone 305 minutes without conceding a goal, spanning more than three games, and they are unbeaten in their last five in the League so will be confident of another shut-out at least against the Toffees.
Moyes' side, on the other hand, are in scoring form and have netted two goals in four of their last five fixtures so will have the belief that they can puncture the Rovers back-line.
FORM GUIDE
Blackburn
11 Apr (Premier League) v Manchester Utd (H) DREW 0-0
03 Apr (Premier League) v Portsmouth (A) DREW 0-0
28 Mar (Premier League) v Burnley (A) WON 1-0
24 Mar (Premier League) v Birmingham (H) WON 2-1
21 Mar (Premier League) v Chelsea (H) DREW 1-1
Everton
14 Apr (Premier League) v Aston Villa (A) DREW 2-2
04 Apr (Premier League) v West Ham Utd (H) DREW 2-2
27 Mar (Premier League) v Wolves (A) DREW 0-0
24 Mar (Premier League) v Manchester City (A) WON 2-0
20 Mar (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 2-0
TEAM NEWS
Blackburn
Yildiray Basturk remains doubtful with a hamstring injury that kept him out of last week's game at Ewood Park. Keith Andrews has missed the last three games with a calf complaint but should be fit enough to play a part in Rovers' remaining fixtures. Lars Jacobsen could also return after recovering from a groin strain.
Last starting XI: Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Jones, Emerton, Pedersen, Grella, N'Zonzi, Kallinic.
Everton
Mikel Arteta did not even make the bench against the Villans and remains doubtful with a groin injury. Victor Anichebe has not played since March and this fixture may come too soon for the striker. Marouane Fellaini and Dan Gosling remain long-term absentees.
Last starting XI: Howard, Jagielka, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Bilyaletdinov, Pienaar, Aiyegbeni.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Blackburn Rovers
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson was excellent in thwarting the Red Devils and keeping a clean-sheet last Sunday, and he will be key again on Saturday against opponents who have only failed to score twice in their last ten away fixtures. Helping to shut out the Toffees would also provide further evidence that Robinson deserves a spot in England's World Cup squad, which would be the perfect summer tonic for a player who is enjoying his best season in years.
Everton
Technically sound, agile and a powerful dribbler, Steven Pienaar has turned into one of the jewels in Moyes' first XI. The South African may attract interest from other clubs in the summer transfer window, but for now the Toffees will be hoping the attacking-midfielder can continue recent good form and torment the Rovers back-line at the weekend. His probing runs can open up holes in defences, and Everton can profit from that with Leon Osman or Tim Cahill ready to pounce.
PREDICTION
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Everton
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