Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City: Can the Canaries end Rovers' top flight stay?
Blackburn Rovers are desperate for a win this weekend. After five defeats on the trot, Steve Kean's men are back in the danger zone. Fortunately their opponents this Saturday are Norwich City, a team that hasn't managed a win over the Rovers in 18 years.
A few weeks ago it looked as though the Rovers had completed the Great Escape. They beat Wolves and Sunderland 2-0 back-to-back to move outside of the bottom three and the sun was shining on the club. Then they lost to Bolton, then Manchester United, followed by West Brom, Liverpool and Swansea. But can they give their fading Premier League survival hopes a boost in the arm against the Canaries?
Norwich City were 3-1 down to Blackburn at Carrow Road in October but two late goals sealed a point for the Canaries in a controversial match. Last weekend they were hit for six by a rampaging Manchester City side and Paul Lambert will be seeking a positive response this weekend from his players.
Blackburn have lost 11 of their 17 home games and have conceded 32 goals, the joint second worst record in the top flight. Meanwhile Norwich have been quite lethal on the road, picking up victories at White Hart Lane and the Liberty Stadium.
With Wigan seemingly transformed into Barcelona and Bolton having two games in hand, Blackburn know this is a must-win game for them. That could play into the hands of Norwich on the break, but Rovers have to go all-out for the points here or they will be playing their old rivals Burnley next season.
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Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City; Kick Off 3pm April 21 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 |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Panel Verdict
Blackburn are tipped for a return to winning ways.
Home: 15; Draw: 7; Away: 9. TBA 5
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
