please log in to view this image TEAM NEWS Blackburn boss Steve Kean has a virtually fully fit squad to choose from against Sunderland. Vince Grella is the only absentee as he continues to struggle with a calf problem, but Bradley Orr returns to the squad. Sunderland will assess Phil Bardsley, who completed the at Everton despite pain from a rib problem. Stephane Sessegnon and Lee Cattermole remain suspended, while Kieran Richardson is out with a calf injury. MATCH PREVIEW The vagaries of a team's end of season schedule become even more confusing when trying to apply footballing logic to a team in relegation trouble. And there's surely no side in the current bottom five more complicated to try to forecast than Blackburn Rovers. In the last 11 matches for example, they've managed to accrue an encouraging 15 points in a run of games which has typified their fluctuating qualities; from the sublime victory at Old Trafford to the ridiculous 7-1 humiliation at Arsenal. Typically, that memorable win against Manchester United was immediately followed by a deflating home defeat to Stoke, while a week after their capitulation at the Emirates they rallied to beat QPR. That predictable unpredictability has even occurred during matches. And nowhere was that more apparent than in the first meeting with Sunderland back in December . Leading until the last six minutes at the Stadium Of Light, and set to move above their hosts in the table, they not only gave up the lead but all the points as David Vaughan and Sebastian Larsson ensured Martin O'Neill's first bow as a their new manager was greeted with scenes of unbridled delirium. Now some 12 points above Rovers, Sunderland's Premier League status is long since secure, and the Black Cats could be forgiven for putting a Tuesday night visit to Ewood Park lower down in their priorities. However, no side managed by O'Neill will ever be allowed to lose their focus and though the three points will be a much more precious commodity for their hosts, attempting to predict the outcome of this game would be little short of absurd. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head The Black Cats are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Rovers (W4, D3). However, they have won only one of their last eight league and cup games at Ewood Park (W1, D4, L3). Blackburn Rovers kept their first clean sheet of the season in their last match away to Wolves. They have not recorded back-to-back shut-outs since August 2010 (they beat Everton 1-0 on the opening day last season, having finished the previous campaign with a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa). Steve Kean's side have scored 40 Premier League goals this season - more than any other team outside the top six. This will be Kean's 50th Premier League game in charge of Rovers, who have yet to win consecutive league matches under the Scot. Sunderland The Black Cats have lost three of the four league games that have come immediately after FA Cup ties this season. They have won only one of the 12 league games this term in which their opponents scored first. They have drawn one of their last 10 top-flight matches.
By Chris Young Published on Tuesday 20 March 2012 09:27 FRAIZER Campbell admits he is still struggling to complete 90 minutes as he prepares for a second game in four days tonight. Campbell has started Sunderland’s last two outings in place of the suspended Stephane Sessegnon and is expected to keep his place for the final game of the Benin international’s ban at Blackburn Rovers tonight. But the England international says he is yet to reach full match fitness after being substituted 15 minutes before time against Liverpool 10 days ago and Everton last weekend. Campbell is still to complete a full game since returning from his 17-month injury lay-off, although the striker believes every opportunity provides a boost in his attempts to last the pace. The 24-year-old told the Echo: “It’s still difficult for me because I’ve not played 90 minutes consistently since I’ve been back. “It’s quite hard for me in the latter stages of the game to continue, due to the type of player I am. “But hopefully I can get that match fitness before the end of the season. “Nicklas Bendtner’s a good player to play alongside and I think we’ve done well together against Everton and Liverpool. “The team’s playing well from the starting XI right through to the squad players. Everyone’s digging deep and enjoying the momentum we’ve got.” The trip to Ewood Park marks the start of the season’s final 10 games, as Sunderland look to register more than the 10 points which would see them equal last year’s tally. But they face a Blackburn side which has taken seven points from their last four games. Campbell is well aware of Blackburn’s Jekyll and Hyde nature – Steve Kean’s men scoring more goals than any side outside the top six, but boasting the second-worst defensive record in the top flight. “We’ve played a lot of the big teams now so most of the teams we’re facing are either around us or below us so we’ve got to fancy our chances a bit,” added Campbell. “We’ll definitely hope to beat last season’s total. But you can’t look at where you’re going to be, otherwise you’ll slip up. “There’s no easy games in the Premier League these days and we’ve got to be fresh in time for tonight’s game. “It’s really tight at the bottom and it’s good that we’ve been able to stay away from that. “There’s a lot of teams down there who are fighting for survival. “Blackburn seem to have these spurts of scoring loads in one game and conceding loads in the next. “It’s hit and miss to see what type of team we’ll face tonight. “Without doubt, they’ve got some good players there, it’s just finding that consistency.”
MARTIN O'NEILL admits he cannot believe the thrilling conclusion to the season which could lie ahead for Sunderland. The 60-year-old launched his reign with a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League victory over Blackburn in December, sparking a revival. He heads for Ewood Park for the reverse fixture with the Black Cats sitting ninth, and a replay away from booking an FA Cup semi-final date with Carling Cup winners Liverpool at Wembley. Sunderland have lost just four of the 19 games for which O'Neill has been in charge to date, and he knows things could hardly have gone much better. Asked if he could have envisaged the current situation, he said: "No, I could not. I wouldn't have envisaged us being even in the semi-final draw, for what it's worth. "We still obviously haven't passed the quarter-final stage, but to be actually in a semi-final draw and at least to know who you might play if there was a possibility of getting through... "But more importantly than that, the number of points we have been able to accumulate, I wouldn't have envisaged that at all." O'Neill took over from Steve Bruce with the Black Cats having collected just 11 points from their first 14 league games. They will run out at Blackburn having added a further 26 from their subsequent 14 fixtures, and are a single win away from the hallowed 40-point mark. Even O'Neill, who has spent much of his time at the Stadium of Light talking about a relegation battle, concedes that victory in Lancashire would complete his first mission. He said: "I think now that 40 points this season will definitely secure survival in the Premier League. "With the sides now in the positions that they are in, I think it would take a lot now for those sides to achieve 40 points. "The truth is this year, if you were to give any of the bottom five 40 points, obviously they would take that in a trice."
Great match thread. If Bardo is injured then the following. Rest O'Shea and Turner. Mignolet Gardner Kyrgiakos Kilgallon Bridge Larsson Vaughan Colback McClean Bendtner Campbell OR Mignolet Gardner Kyrgiakos Kilgallon Bridge Larsson Vaughan Meyler Colback McClean Bendtner
Ref Watch: Martin Atkinson Martin Atkinson will take charge of Sunderland's game at Blackburn Rovers tonight. Martin Atkinson is one of a select group of English referees to have officiated in the UEFA Champions' League. He made the jump to the Football League in August 2003 and completed almost two seasons on that circuit before being elevated into the Premier League. Atkinson has had a busy season thus far, including European games the West Yorkshire man has took charge of 33 games, and shown a staggering 114 yellow cards and dismissed nine players. He last took charge of Sunderland during their snowy outing at the Britannia Stadium back in February, where he dismissed Stoke City's Robert Huth for a challenge on David Meyler and also booked John O'Shea.
It is a hard one to call, points are still very important and I don't see MON making too many changes (Unless his hand is forced ) if we assume Bardsley is out I would move O'shea over to full back and bring the big Greek lad in. This way we keep 3 of our last back 4 all be it one in a different position but still should be a decent understanding.After that I would like to go with the rest who started on Saturday. Don't agree with a couple of comments on here about Gardner being poor at weekend, think he has been our most consistent performer over the last several weeks, and I don't buy this tired/ needs resting game. Professional athletes should manage 2 games a week and if they look tired mid second half well that is one of the reasons we have subs for. Also with Catts and Sess back shortly there is one or two who would like to show MON that they deserve to stay in the starting 11. All said I hope and expect a 2-1 win for the lads.
After the tension of last weekend and the nerve jangling tensions waiting for us next Tuesday it will be nice to relax tonight. I think its important that we win to keep the run going but its not the end of the world to draw or even lose. Because the pressure is off I can see a cracking free flowing win.
Garry Bennett in my ear, Soccer Special on Sky, what a way to spend a Tuesday evening, fanbloodytastic
Team, Bardo captain, Greek in for O'Shea and Vaughan for Coleback MIG BARDO..TURNER..THE GREEK..BRIDGE LARSSON..GARDNER..VAUGHAN..MCLEAN CAMPBELL..BENDY
