Wolves vs Blackburn Rovers preview - Johnson in contention - 7M sport

Wolves vs Blackburn Rovers preview - Johnson in contention



I have a say

Posted Saturday, March 10, 2012 by PA

Wolves skipper and defender Roger Johnson is included in the squad for their home Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn after being disciplined for being in an unfit condition to train on Monday.

Johnson, dropped for the past two games, and on-loan Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, are in contention after the 5-0 defeat at Fulham last weekend.

Midfielder David Davis, recalled from a loan spell at Chesterfield, is included in the squad as a possible replacement for Karl Henry who is side-lined with a hamstring injury. Fellow midfielder Dave Edwards resumed training yesterday after two weeks out with a knee injury while top scorer Steven Fletcher has recovered from illness.

Wolves have gone more than three months without a home win and lost 5-1 to West Brom in the last game at Molineux - a match which sealed manager Mick McCarthy's fate.

Connor knows that record has to improve but is trying to play down the significance of the Blackburn game as he predicted another last-day-of-the-season battle to survive in the top flight.

He said: "I know we haven't won at home since December 4 but we have to try to play in a positive manner, be bold and win a game of football.

"I hope the fans react to that and give a positive feedback to the players. Hopefully then everyone can go home with a smile on their faces.

"The lads are professional. This is their home pitch, and they want to win on that home pitch.

"People are building up the significance of this game and we know it will be big but it is not the end of the campaign.

"We will try to get three points and, if we do, it will be a great win and a great boost for everyone.

"If it goes the other way, we've got another 10 games after that to get the points we need to stay in the Premier League."

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has extra defensive options at his disposal, with both Gael Givet and Jason Lowe returning from suspension.

It is unlikely the duo will break into the Scot's starting line-up, though, with both short of match practice.

One man who could start at Molineux is David Dunn, with the midfielder having come off the bench against Aston Villa last week to score the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Blackburn will call on the experience of last season's successful survival bid.

Only goal difference separates the two sides in a congested bottom quarter of the ladder at the moment, with Wolves occupying the final relegation spot and Rovers just above them on the same number of points - 22.

With QPR and Bolton - who also meet- on 22 and 20 points respectively, and bottom side Wigan perched on 20, things could hardly be tighter, and there is every chance the fight to stay up could go to the very last day of the season, just as it did in 2011.

Then, Blackburn secured another season in the top division with a 3-2 win over Wanderers and Kean has called on his players to tap into those memories.

"We're going into the Wolves game with experience of how we played last year," he said.

"We were 3-0 up at half-time, hit the post for number four after that and, with the way we played in the second half of the draw with Aston Villa last week, if we can take those positive aspects with us, it is a game we are looking forward to."

David Dunn's second-half equaliser salvaged a point for Rovers against Villa - the nearest side to the struggling quintet on 30 points - but it could not earn his side what would have been just a second win in six.

As a result, they remain in deep trouble, just like Wolves, who were thumped 5-0 at Fulham last weekend as they continue to acclimatise to life under Terry Connor following the departure of Mick McCarthy.

"I saw Wolves last week and they were unfortunate not to get a goal before Fulham scored," Kean said of the Midlands club.

"I don't expect they will have their heads down too much. They will have been back ion the training ground, working that result out of them. It's going to be tough. It's a massive game."



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.