Blackburn Rovs v Hull City

Last updated : 08 February 2010 By BBC Sport

Manager Sam Allardyce may opt to change his starting line-up in the wake of their defeat at the Britannia, but top scorer David Dunn is still not fit.

Hull hope Geovanni will be able to return after spending time in Portugal for treatment on a minor medial ligament problem.

Dean Marney (calf) and Kamel Ghilas (thigh) may also be back in the squad.

 

Blackburn

Suspended: Samba (one match) Doubtful: None

Injured: Basturk (match fitness), Dunn (calf), Jacobsen (thigh)

 

Hull City

Suspended: None

Doubtful: Geovanni (knee), Ghilas (thigh), Marney (calf)

Injured: Ashbee & Bullard (both knee)

 

MATCH PREVIEW

Blackburn remain seven points clear of the Premier League trapdoor, but any more performances like the one they put in at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City on Saturday and their proximity to the drop zone will not be so healthy.

We are not out of trouble by a long chalk yet. The magic 40-point mark is looming and that is where we have to get to.

 

Manager Sam Allardyce has his sights firmly set on reaching the so-called 40-point safety mark and he will be looking to his side's home record to be their saving grace.

They have been defeated just twice at Ewood Park this season in 12 league matches - against Champions League hopefuls Manchester City and Tottenham - and have dealt with teams around them with the minimum of fuss. At the turn of the year you could have got pretty good odds on Hull coming through matches against Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City without a loss against their name.

But the Tigers have rediscovered their bite and have lost only once in their last six league matches and that was a predictable steamrollering at Old Trafford.

The win over Manchester City propelled them up to 14th, equalling their highest place since August and it is a position manager Phil Brown would bite your hand off to secure come May.

 

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Blackburn are unbeaten in their three Premier League meetings with Hull - a 2-1 win on 1 March 2009, a 1-1 draw on 23 August 2008 and a 0-0 draw in December 2009.

• This is the 56th meeting between these sides. Blackburn have won 27 encounters, Hull 12 with 16 draws.

 

Blackburn

• Blackburn have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home matches.

• Rovers have conceded more fouls (377) and been caught offside (82) than any other team in the Premier League this season.

• Sam Allardyce's men have also failed to score in 12 of their Premier League matches, more than any other side in the top flight.

Hull City

• Hull have failed to score in six of their last eight away games in the league.

• The Tigers are without a win in 17 Premier League away matches.

• Phil Brown's side have drawn four and won one of their last six Premier League matches.

 

LEADING GOALSCORERS

 Blackburn

Dunn: 6 goals (5 league); Kalinic: 6 goals (1 league)

 Hull City

Hunt: 6 goals (6 league); Geovanni: 5 goals (3 league)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Probert

Assistant referees: Stuart Burt & Andy Newbold

Fourth official: Phil Dowd

 

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Blackburn (L0-3 v Stoke City, a): Robinson, Chimbonda (Salgado 65), Nelsen, Samba, Givet, Di Santo (Andrews 60), Emerton, Nzonzi (Reid 73), Pedersen, Olsson, Kalinic. Subs not used: Brown, Roberts, Diouf, Hoilett.

Hull City (W2-1 v Man City, h): Myhill, McShane, Gardner, Mouyokolo, Dawson, Fagan, Boateng (Olofinjana 82), Cairney, Hunt, Altidore (Zaki 66), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Kilbane 83). Subs not used: Duke, Barmby, Garcia, Zayatte.

 

MOST RECENT MEETING

Hull City 0-0 Blackburn (12 December 2009)

 

 

 

 

 

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport