Sam Allardyce during his pre-match press conference
So after the unbridled pessimism that was my last post comes optimism! Having taken just a point when three were expected against Wolves, City went into fixtures against Chelsea, top of the league and Champions elect and the richest club in the world, Manchester City. Many, including myself, expected City to gain no points from the Chelsea fixture and perhaps scrape a point against Abu Dhabi Citeh. How wrong can you be? Confident attacking displays coupled with stout defending brought four points from those two games and so we can now look towards tonight's trip to Ewood Park with a degree of confidence and hopes of claiming a first away win of the season. Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown, as we all know by now, spent many years working alongside each other at Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers and both men have been in the media recently with cautionary words for their teams. (Phil Brown: Sky Sports. Sam Allardyce: Also Sky Sports.) Blackburn's home form this season has been solid, losing just once in their last eleven home games and twice all season. These defeats were at the hands of Manchester City and Tottenham though, so it would appear that they are no slouches on home soil. The statistics back this up. Of twelve league home games this season, Blackburn have won six, drawn four and lost the aforementioned two. When you take into account that the Tigers have claimed only four points on the road this season, the prospects of claiming anything tonight look bleak. Or do they? Examining their home record further shows a goalless draws with West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool as well as a 2-2 draw with Sunderland. Added to this narrow victories over Wigan, Burnley and Aston Villa are hardly convincing. In all, Blackburn have scored a respectable 17 goals at Ewood Park this season and conceded 12, so it would seem that the first goal tonight will be key. City don't net much on their travels, just 7 all season, and have conceded 30 goals in that time.
But statistics can only tell you so much. This last week has seen City look revived, thanks in no small part to strength of the spine of the side. Stephen Mouyokolo and Tony Gardner have quickly formed a very good centre half pairing, so much so that cult hero Kamil Zayatte is having to play back up. Up front, Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and Jozy Altidore look to be developing an understanding that has seen each man lay the other on for superb goals in recent games. Altidore provided the assist for big Jan's superb goal against Wolves and the Dutchman happily returned the favour against Man City on Saturday, holding the ball up before passing into Altidore's path, then standing to admire the American's lovely finish. You always have to save the best for last. don't you? And so in that spirit, we come to the midfield. How good have George Boateng and Tom Cairney been? I criticised Boateng last week for his rash challenge on Anelka that led to Didier Drogba's goal, but to write his general performance off for that daft mistake would've been stupid. He carried on in this rich vein of form against Man City, and scored an absolute worldie of a goal, his first for City and well deserved. The news that he's facing a fight to make the game is a blow. Suffering with cramp, if Boateng does miss out expect Seyi Olofinjana to deputise. Alongside The Boat, Tom Cairney has played three Premier League games in a week and looks like he's played another 200 more. City fans must remember though that Cairney is still only a young lad and his form will have peaks and troughs but if Brown and the backroom staff can nurture his talent over the coming months, we look to have a player who can play a vital role in our survival fight. Assuming he starts, tonight will be another big test for him. His only league games have come at the KC and a trip to Ewood Park will be another rite of passage for the youngster.
Other team news reports that Andy Dawson may miss out too. I'm always quick to criticise Dawson when I think he's made a mistake or had a poor game, but credit where it's due, Dawson has been magnificent in recent games. He was excellent against Chelsea, coping with Drogba's constant sojourns out to his wing for Chelsea goal kicks and with the marauding threat of Ivanovic. Against Manchester City he also dealt capably with first Stephen Ireland and then the changing threats of Adam Johnson and Martin Petrov, as well as Zabaleta's runs from right back. Expect Kevin Kilbane to fill in if Dawson does miss out. Kilbane should slot straight in, especially as he bags of experience in this position for the Republic of Ireland.
All in all, I'm confident of coming away with something. I had predicted earlier in the week on KCFM that CITY would win 2-0 but truth be told I'd be delighted with a point. Enjoy the game.
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Soundtrack to this post:
This Is Not The World by The Futureheads
(Nul Records) (2008)
Rating: 9/10
