Match Preview - The Owls Vs. Blackburn Rovers

Last Updated on Monday, 03 August 2009 13:59

Build up to the new season continues tomorrow with another Hillsborough friendly - this time the Owls will be lining up against Premier League boys, Blackburn Rovers.

Ricky Charlesworth gives Wednesdayite.com readers a quick preview of the match...

"The former Premier League Champions roll into S6 on the back of a hit-and-miss pre-season. Sam Allardyce’s troops have collected just one win, a 4-0 rout at Cambridge United. They did, however get a respectable draw against European giants Roma, whilst a mini-tournament in Croatia (similar to the Owls' Maltese tournament) ended with Rovers failing to score in both games.

Rovers have a proud history, being one of the founding members of the Football League and Premier League, going on to win the latter in the days before the "big four". They are still one of only four clubs to win the re-branded Premier League, along with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Since being promoted back to the Premier League in 2001, Rovers have qualified for Europe on numerous occasions and have enjoyed League Cup success. Many great players have graced Ewood Park in recent years, such as Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Roque Santa Cruz and the evergreen Tugay.

Last season, Sam Allardyce had half-a-season to keep rovers up, and he did so successfully, ensuring Ewood Park hosts Premier League football in 2009-10. Over the summer, Allardyce has chopped and changed the roster, with Santa Cruz, Tugay and Derbyshire leaving. The former Bolton chief has brought in relatively unknowns such as Steven N’Zonzi and Elrio van Heerden.

If Rovers are to mount a serious challenge for Europe next season, they must address their strikeforce, which is depleted by the departures of Santa Cruz and Derbyshire. Names such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Franco di Santo and Christian Vieri have all been linked with the club, but it remains to be seen who Allardyce will recruit.

DANGER MEN

Keith Andrews – the Irishmen was a surprise signing when he joined twelve months ago from then-league two Milton Keynes. He managed to grab four goals last season, and was recently the subject of a bid from Premier League rivals Fulham

El Hadji Diouf – the controversial Senegalese forward joined Rovers after a brief spell at Sunderland. Always a target for the boo-boys, Diouf’s most successful spell in England was at Bolton, where he was with current Rovers boss Allardyce. The two were re-united in January, with Diouf mostly deployed as a makeshift winger.

Benni McCarthy – after winning the Champions League with FC Porto, McCarthy’s maiden season at Ewood Park ended with him bagging 18 goals and finishing second in the scoring charts. Since then, McCarthy has had a more modest scoring record, bagging 10 in 26 last season as Rovers escaped the drop.

OWLS TEAM NEWS

Brian Laws’ starting line-up is likely to reflect the XI that will start the full league season against Barnsley, whilst Darren Purse and Tommy Miller will both be pushing for their Hillsborough bows. Marcus Tudgay could feature in his first match since ending speculation on his future by signing a new four-year deal at Hillsborough."