Bothroyd out due to suspension, Short still carrying a knock, otherwise we should be near 100% for this one. Birmingham has been known to be stout in the back under Steve Bruce, so a goal could be tough to come by. With that said, Birmingham has had a tough time knocking them in, as the loss of Forsell has proven to be tough to overcome. I think Rovers can get all three from this one if they can get an early goal and hold on. Blackburn has proven to be tough to beat of late, now it's time for that to translate into three points.
team news...... Blackburn 1 Brad Friedel 2 Lucas Neill 14 Nils-Eric Johansson 24 Andy Todd 25 James McEveley 18 Steven Reid 16 Barry Ferguson 8 Kerimoglu Tugay 7 Brett Emerton 10 Paul Dickov 17 Matt Jansen subs 13 Peter Enckelman 22 Dominic Matteo 12 Morten Gamst Pedersen 20 David Thompson 19 Paul Gallagher Birmingham Maik Taylor 1 Mario Melchiot 29 Kenny Cunningham 4 Matthew Upson 5 Julian Gray 21 Jesper Gronkjaer 7 Darren Anderton 32 David Dunn 10 Robbie Savage 8 Damien Johnson 22 Clinton Morrison 19 subs Nico Vaesen 18 Jamie Clapham 3 Martin Taylor 15 Stephen Clemence 25 Dwight Yorke 33
so after being down 3-1 at halftime, the guys fight it out in the final 45 to draw at 3-3, and could have nearly won it in the final minute of stoppage time. Nice displays from Reid, Thompson, and Dickov, but still, the achilles heel of this team is in the back; 3 points could be much easier to come across if we weren't letting in 2,3,4 goals every other match. On the subject of Thompson, I really think he should get a nod in the starting eleven alongside Ferguson in the center next week against Fulham. He has looked lively as a sub in the last two games, and I think he'd be better than Tugay regardless.
I thought Dom Matteo would have helped the defence, but apparently he can't get ahead of Andy Todd in the lineup. That's where we need to spend that Dahlin money in the winter break. There just don't seem to be that many good centre halves around these days...
I agree with this statement. I am a Fulham fan, but I was watching your match on Sunday and Thompson looked good in there. I would think he will get the start against Fulham on Saturday. Should be a good match. Bright and early on Saturday.
I think there will be alot to this on, with two teams that could really use the points right now. I wish I could be there; I'd love to see a game at the Cottage.
I would love to go to a match at the Cottage myself. I think I will be going for the first time this spring. Should be fun. Have you been to Ewood Park?
yep, I saw Rovers beat Man U 1-0 in May and I'm going back next month for the home game with Newcastle and the away game at Bolton...I can't wait!
Damn, that is awesome. Are originally from over there? How did you become a Blackburn fan? I became a Fulham fan from watching them on TV and reading about them in the past years. I was a Manchester United fan for a while, but I saw the light with Fulham. I enjoy following them as they are one of the smaller teams in the EPL. I like the coach, the owner, the players and occassionally their style of play. Hopefully I see a good style of Fulham play on Saturday because it is gonna be an early rise to watch that game.
I originally started following Rovers because of Friedel over 3 years ago, but once I found out more about the club, being a smaller club in the smallest town in Premiership that fit the underdog role more times than not, I was hooked. I'm not one to jump on bandwagons, so the fact they weren't Arsenal, Man U, Chelsea, etc. was that much more appealing.
The reasons you mention are also ones I like Fulham. Small club, the underdog, smallest stadium in the EPL, etc. So, are you worried about the season? I am concerned for Fulham a bit about going down, but in the end I think they will survive. What do you think is gonna happen to Blackburn this season?
I think we will stay up, but we need to shore up the back in January. Otherwise, I think we have enough quality to be mid-table, but our defense is what is holding us at the foot of the table now. Fulham has more than enough quality to stay up, so I don't think you'll have to worry about that. If anything, I think Fulham will end up mid-table, and could be a tough draw by the time the FA cup comes around.