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DATE: Saturday
1st October 2005
MATCH PREVIEW BY: Dale Brookes So we visit
Blackburn Rovers this Saturday and to be honest if we can repeat what we
did last time we played Ewood Park then I’ll settle for that even though
we are in need desperately of a win! At the moment confidence is rock
bottom and after yet another defeat last weekend against Charlton and with
the way we played in the first half it’s hard to see where on earth our
next three points are going to come from. What we need is a good solid
performance because at the moment we are not even getting that but one
thing we cannot afford to do is lose this game as there is then a two week
international break which is the worst thing we could have asked for. I really hope
he doesn’t play Andy Johnson in the midfield again as even though he tries
his heart out he simply is NOT good enough for the Premiership, every
Albion fan can see that why can’t Bryan Robson? I rest my case. As for
Wallwork I have to agree that in the 2nd half when he played alongside
Jonathan Greening he looked a far better player but he is still not
turning in the kind of performances he was last season. It will be
interesting to see who Robson goes for up front as Ellington is knocking
on the door especially after those two goals against Bradford City, but
also Horsfield must be mighty close too as after all he is currently our
top goal scorer! Don’t be surprised to see Captain Campbell taking one of
the striker places again though. Prediction time
once more then and as much as I’d love and hope we can win I just cannot
see it to be honest. Rovers will be brewing with confidence after their
2-1 victory at Man Utd and I think they will have no problem seeing us off
2-0 at the very least. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!! Albion:
Diomansy Kamara is
almost certain to start after an impressive second half performance in the
2-1 defeat at home to Charlton last weekend, Andy Johnson possibly the
player to make way with Jonathan Greening moving into the centre of
midfield. Martin Albrechtsen returns from his one match suspension so he
could well replace Steve Watson at right back.
Blackburn Rovers:
Boss Mark
Hughes is forced to make one change to the side that battled out a
fantastic 2-1 win at Manchester United
last weekend. Robbie Savage is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow
card so is likely to be replaced by Aaron Mokoena or Brett Emerton. Other
than that Rovers have a fully fit squad to take on the Baggies.
This Season:
Rovers currently lie in 12th place in the Premiership with eight points
from seven games. Morten Pedersen is the club's leading scorer with three
goals. Mark Hughes' men have won their last two games; beating Manchester
United 2-1 at Old Trafford and beating Huddersfield Town 3-1 in the
Carling Cup at Ewood Park. Last Season: Finished 15th in
the Barclays Premiership. Knocked out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals by
Arsenal and
beaten in the 2nd round of the Carling Cup by Bournemouth. Paul
Dickov finished the season as Blackburn's top goalscorer with 10 league and cup goals. The Manager: Wrexham born Mark Hughes began his professional career at Manchester
United, signing professional for them in 1980 and
making his debut in 1983. He spent three years at Old
Trafford winning an FA Cup medal in 1985 as well as being voted the PFA
Young Player of the Year. He
was sold to Spanish giants Barcelona in 1986 for £2 million, however his
spell at the Nou Camp was not a success, he was loaned out to Bayern
Munich during his time in Spain and in 1988 returned to United. Back at
Old Trafford he soon regained his form, being voted the PFA Player of the
Year in both 1989 and 1991. During his second spell at United he picked up
European Cup Winners Cup, Premiership, FA Cup and League Cup winners
medals before leaving for Chelsea in the summer of 1995 where he became
the first player to ever pick up four FA Cup winners medals. He finished
his playing career with spells at Southampton, Everton
and Blackburn. His first taste of management came
in 1999 when he took temporary joint charge of Wales along with Neville
Southall. In November of that same year he was officially named Wales' new
boss, initially on a part-time basis, following Bobby Gould's departure.
In September 2004 and after almost five years as Wales boss he took over
from Graeme Souness as Blackburn Rovers manager.
Squad List (Squad numbers in brackets):
Goalkeepers: Defenders: Midfielders: Strikers: Ones To Watch: Craig Bellamy -
Frightening pace matched with top notch finishing, one of the best
strikers in the Premiership when at his best. David Thompson
- Very clever and tricky player who can sometimes make creative things
happen out of nothing, watch out for his long range shots too. Morten Gamst
Pedersen - Is in red hot form following his brace at Old Trafford last
weekend, has a lethal left foot as well as being very skilful. The Ground: Ewood Park opened in 1890 and
currently has a capacity of 31,367. The record attendance for the
ground was set in March 1929 when 62,522 attended Rovers' FA Cup game
against Bolton Wanderers. A number of photos of the ground
can be found
here
The two clubs first met in competitive football during the 1884/85 season when Rovers beat Albion 2-0 in an FA Cup tie at Albion's Four Acres ground. The sides met again the following season in the final of the same competition, Blackburn lifting the trophy following a 2-0 victory in a replay at Derby. Both Albion and Rovers were founder members of the Football League and the first league meeting of the two club's came during the competition's inaugral season in 1888/89. The first game between the two sides came at Rovers' Leamington Road ground and ended with a 6-2 victory for the home side, a result that remains the Lancashire club's best victory over the Baggies. The return game at Stoney Lane saw Albion gain a certain amount of revenge with a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Billy Bassett and Thomas Pearson. Albion's biggest win over Rovers came in January 1936, Albion running out 8-1 winners at The Hawthorns, W G Richardson and John Mahon both scoring hat-tricks. Other big wins include 6-2 in 1899 and 5-3 in 1902. During Albion's Championship winning season of 1919/20 Albion beat Rovers 5-1 and 5-2 within the space of a fortnight. Albion's last victory over Blackburn came in September 2000 at The Hawthorns, the Baggies winning 1-0 thanks to a Lee Hughes goal whilst Albion's last victory at Ewood Park came in February 1991, two goals from Don Goodman and one from Gary Robson helping Albion to a 3-0 victory. The last three meetings of the two sides have ended in 1-1 draws.
Last Meeting
At Ewood Park
Blackburn
Rovers 1-1 Albion
Blackburn Rovers:
Friedel, Emerton (Gallagher 84), Amoruso, Short, Gresko (Dickov
HT), De
Pedro (Tugay HT), Ferguson, Matteo, Gray, Yorke, Stead.
Subs Not Used: Enckelman (gk),
Johansson Goalscorer: Short 70
Albion:
Hoult, Scimeca, Gaardsoe, Purse, Robinson, Haas, Greening, Johnson (Gera
87), Clement (Moore 76), Kanu, Horsfield (Dobie 76).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak (gk),
O'Connor
Goalscorer: Clement 33 Half-Time: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Albion Attendance: 23,475
Craig Short denied
West Brom an opening day victory on their return to the
Premiership as he cancelled out a Neil Clement set piece to claim a share
of the spoils for Blackburn Rovers. Clement had earlier given the Baggies
a perfect start with a deflected free kick but following missed chances
from both sides Short popped up unmarked to head home and make sure it
was a point a piece at the final whistle. Current Connections None Past Connections Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Paul Bradshaw, Franz Carr, Jack Crisp, Tony Dobson, Graham Fenton, Alan Fettis, Simon Garner, Mark Grew, Andy Marriott, Alan Miller, Nicky Reid, David Speedie and James Thomas. The late Ray Harford managed both Rovers and Albion whilst former Albion managers Jesse Carver and Ossie Ardiles both spent time as Blackburn players. Former Albion midfielder Asa Hartford had a spell as coach at Ewood Park during the early 1990's. All-Time League & Cup Record vs Blackburn Rovers
Last Ten Matches Against Blackburn Rovers
Tickets for this
game are now on general sale. |
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