Jobs At Stake For Kean, Coyle As Blackburn, Bolton Clash In Relegation Battle

Blackburn and Bolton are set to engage in a Premier League relegation dog-fight on Tuesday, December 21, 2011, in match week 17, and the result could relegate either team’s manager out of his job. It’s a do-or-die for both Kean and Coyle with their sides occupying the last two slots on the league table.

Blackburn lost 2-1 at home  to West Brom, in match week 16. A defensive error saw west Brom get ahead after N’Zonzi only partially cleared a corner allowing Morrison to shoot at goal from the edge of the area. Blackburn equalized after Samba won an aerial battle to grab the ball from Paul Robinson’s long boot forward; Scott Dann pounced on the loose ball to find the back of West Brom’s net from six yards out. And just as it looked as though the Rovers would salvage a point, Peter Odemwingie cut in off the right flank to lash a left-foot curler into the home goal, with just three minutes left on the clock.

In match week 16, Bolton lost 2-0 away at Fulham. Bolton had no answer after a powerful header from Clint Dempsey followed soon after by a chip from Ruiz at about the half-hour mark got the Cottagers 2-0 ahead. Owen Coyle’s side slumped to their seventh defeat in eight games, as they did not threaten the Cottagers’ goal except with long range shots that did not worry Fulham keeper Stockdale too much.

Head to head, in the last 10 years, Blackburn and Bolton have met in 20 league games, with Blackburn winning on 7 occasions and Bolton on 4, with the remaining 9 games ending in stalemates. The last time these teams met was in April 2011; that match hosted by Blackburn ended 1-0 in the home side’s favour.

Blackburn have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 7 of their last 10 league matches, while Bolton have won 2, and lost 8 of their last 10 games

Currently in 19th place on the league table, Blackburn have hosted 8 home games, this season, winning 2 and losing the remaining 6; The Wanderers who are last placed on the table have had 2 wins and 6 losses, in their 8 away games.

Given the circumstances of the managers of the two teams in the fray, this promises to be a thrilling game. Both teams will be best served by playing an open and positive game and the fans won’t be left complaining.

Blackburn’s starting eleven against West Brom:  Paul Robinson, Jason Lowe, Christopher Samba, Scott Dann, Morten Gamst, Pedersen, Mauro Formica, David Dunn, Steven Nzonzi, Simon Vukcevic, Ruben Rochina, Ayegbeni Yakubu

Bolton’s starting eleven against Fulham: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Dedryck Boyata, Gary Cahill, Zat Knight, Marcos Alonso, Mark Davies, Fabrice Muamba, Nigel Reo-Coker, Darren Pratley, Kevin Davies, Ivan Klasnic

Tags: Blackburn, Bolton, Fulham, Result

Category: Football