Post by Shanks5974 on Jan 14, 2006 16:52:13 GMT 1
There is more than just local pride at stake when Blackburn and Bolton clash on Saturday evening at Ewood Park, live on PremPlus.
Fine first halves to the season have seen both sides in the chase for Europe with just two points separating The Trotters in seventh and Rovers in eighth.
A win for either side would boost lofty aspirations of a top six finish, although it is the hosts who will be in more confident mood of claiming the three points as The Trotters' Premiership form has tailed off in recent weeks.
A six-match unbeaten run, meanwhile, has seen Mark Hughes's side progress in both cup competitions and continue their upward mobility in The Premiership.
Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United keeps Rovers in contention to claim a place in the Carling Cup final, although the extra match in midweek may hinder Hughes's preparations for this Lancashire derby.
Bolton will be the fresher of the two but are hampered by the unavailability of a host of first team players who are away on African Cup of Nations duty.
Striker El-Hadji-Diouf, who scored a controversial late winner in this fixture last season, defender Radhi Jaidi and midfielders Jay-Jay Okocha and Abdoulaye Faye are all absent.
Sam Allardyce will be forced to shuffle his pack but must do without Henrik Pedersen who is unlikely to return after failing to recover from an Achilles injury.
Hughes, on the other hand, has a fully fit squad at his disposal but may choose to rest a number of players after the gruelling match with United.
Paul Dickov is set to replace Shefki Kuqi in Rovers' attack while there may also be starts for Steven Reid and Brett Emerton.
Aaron Mokoena, who was due to team up with South Africa, flew back to England after a dispute over the national team captaincy and will be available to Hughes.
A goalless draw at The Reebok Stadium in early September was symptomatic of the tight tussles between Rovers and Bolton since the pair reclaimed their top-flight status in 2001.
Match preview by skysports.com
Fine first halves to the season have seen both sides in the chase for Europe with just two points separating The Trotters in seventh and Rovers in eighth.
A win for either side would boost lofty aspirations of a top six finish, although it is the hosts who will be in more confident mood of claiming the three points as The Trotters' Premiership form has tailed off in recent weeks.
A six-match unbeaten run, meanwhile, has seen Mark Hughes's side progress in both cup competitions and continue their upward mobility in The Premiership.
Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United keeps Rovers in contention to claim a place in the Carling Cup final, although the extra match in midweek may hinder Hughes's preparations for this Lancashire derby.
Bolton will be the fresher of the two but are hampered by the unavailability of a host of first team players who are away on African Cup of Nations duty.
Striker El-Hadji-Diouf, who scored a controversial late winner in this fixture last season, defender Radhi Jaidi and midfielders Jay-Jay Okocha and Abdoulaye Faye are all absent.
Sam Allardyce will be forced to shuffle his pack but must do without Henrik Pedersen who is unlikely to return after failing to recover from an Achilles injury.
Hughes, on the other hand, has a fully fit squad at his disposal but may choose to rest a number of players after the gruelling match with United.
Paul Dickov is set to replace Shefki Kuqi in Rovers' attack while there may also be starts for Steven Reid and Brett Emerton.
Aaron Mokoena, who was due to team up with South Africa, flew back to England after a dispute over the national team captaincy and will be available to Hughes.
A goalless draw at The Reebok Stadium in early September was symptomatic of the tight tussles between Rovers and Bolton since the pair reclaimed their top-flight status in 2001.
Match preview by skysports.com