Preview: Blackburn Rovers

We look ahead to Saturday's 3pm kick-off at Ewood Park





Bolton Wanderers will travel to Ewood Park this weekend to face Gary Bowyer’s Blackburn Rovers.

The Whites will be looking to make it five consecutive wins against Rovers and record their first three points of the season.

Three 2-1 wins followed by a narrow 1-0 victory at the Reebok in the most recent fixture between the two sides, with Chris Eagles scoring in stoppage time with the last kick of the game.

Currently lying two points ahead Dougie Freedman’s men in the Sky Bet Championship table, Rovers have taken four points from their opening four games.





Speaking in his pre-match press conference, manager Dougie Freedman said: “We are fully fit tomorrow and I have always said we have a strong squad when everybody is fit.

“Everybody is available tomorrow which is very pleasing and I am looking forward to the game.”





Jordan Rhodes is the obvious player to watch out for with 28 goals for Rovers last season and deserved winner of the club’s Player of the Year award.

Rhodes started his career at Ipswich Town and impressed immediately as he scored 40 goals in games for the U16s, U18s and reserve teams in his first full season at the club. After moving to Huddersfield Town in 2009, Rhodes continued to develop his goal scoring skills, reaching the 20 goal mark in both of his first two seasons.

Rhodes grabbed the nation’s attention in 2011/12 season when he 36 goals in 40 league games for the Terriers as he helped the club win promotion to the Championship.

His remarkable form earned the Scottish international an £8m move to Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2012, equalling Rovers’ club record fee.





Blackburn Rovers will be looking to build on from their good result last week, as they scored four goals in the first half against Barnsley to seal a 5-2 victory at Ewood Park.

There has been a number of changes at the Lancashire club during the summer, with boss Bowyer drafting in a number of new players including Alex Marrow and Alan Judge from Crystal Palace and Notts County respectively.

The club will be aiming for more stability this season after a number of managerial changes last year, with Bowyer, Steve Kean, Henning Berg and Michael Appleton all spending time in the Rovers hot seat.





The referee for this weekend’s game will be Keith Stroud from Hampshire.

Stroud, currently involved in his tenth season as a referee, has already brandished 18 yellow cards this season and one red from his four games.

His last outing came on Wednesday night at Goodison Park, where he took charge of Everton’s 2-1 win over League One club Stevenage.
 



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