Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City: Will the Potters bring Rovers crashing back down to Earth?
Blackburn Rovers produced the result of 2011 on New Year's Day as Steve Kean's basement boys went to the home of the champions and became major party poopers by beating them on Fergie's 70th birthday. That win took Rovers off the foot of the table and sealed their first win at Old Trafford for 17 years. It begs the question; Do you still want Steve Kean out?
Nobody gave Blackburn a hope in hell of getting anything from the champions. In fact they were 28/1 with the bookies to beat the Red Devils, but this is a Rovers side that defies logic. They can beat Arsenal 4-3 at home and draw with Liverpool at Anfield, yet lose at home to fellow strugglers Bolton. Today they take on one of their bogey teams Stoke City. Can Steve Kean build on the momentum from Old Trafford and beat the Potters or will the Rovers come crashing back down to Earth?
Stoke City ended 2011 with a draw at home to Wigan Athletic but Tony Pulis will be confident of getting 2012 off to a flyer as they haven't lost the first league game of a calendar year for seven years. Not forgetting that they have also beat Blackburn on five of the last six occasions.
Blackburn's last win over Stoke came at Ewood Park in 2008 thanks to Jason Roberts and a brace from Benni McCarthy. Can the Rovers finally end their hoodoo against the Potters and potentially climb out of the dreaded drop zone? This game could go either way.
Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City; Kick Off 3pm January 2 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
0 |
V |
4 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
0 |
V |
0 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
This could go either way.
Home: 9; Draw: 11; Away: 15. TBA 1
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
