This next week will be make or break for Rovers season if they are to qualify for Europe. With 2 home games left, Chelsea on Tuesday and Man City a week tomorrow, Rovers travel to The Valley today for their last away game of the season. With Newcastle and Bolton sitting on their shoulder, if Rovers are to have any chance of qualifying for Europe they need to beat Charlton this afternoon and Man City next Sunday, plus hopefully a draw against Chelsea on Tuesday. With the exception of the injured Andy Todd, Matteo and Gresco, Mark Hughes has a full squad to choose from, now that Tugay has recovered from injury, plus Paul Gallagher who has been recalled from his season long loan spell at Stoke, where he was their top scorer. Whoever plays this afternoon, will have to be up for it, an attitude of just turning up will not be sufficient if the club has any chance of European football next season. A win today would set the scene for an exciting night at Ewood on Tuesday against Chelsea, before the final game at Ewood next Sunday against City. Charlton Preview - Click Here

Monday 3 April – Rovers 1 Wigan Athletic 1 – The chase for the champions league spot is now in full swing, no doubt scouts from the likes of Barcelona and Juventus will be tuning in to see what they might have to face next season. Skefki Kuqi. The big fella scored in the 84th minute to salvage a point for us in this one. You can knock him all you like, probably best to use a bulldozer, but you’ve got to admit he’s got some very important goals for us. In fact I’ve just worked it out, using the power of sums, his goals have earnt us 10 points this season. A great return for someone with the first touch of a wheelbarrow. Paul Jewell, the cheeky chirpy Scouser that he is, accused the referee of being a bit rubbish. Just because Lucas “Lion of Sydney” Neill was pushed into their Spanish keeper, Juan-Feelan, who dropped the ball he feels his team was hard done to. Well unlucky pal! What about the goal we should have in the 2nd half when Bellamy was clearly brought down when through on goal? Or when Pedersen scored but the game was stopped as Dickov was adjudged to have put Juan-Feelan off with one of his hard stares? In truth, looking back, on reflection, at the end of the day Brian, a draw was about right. We didn’t play well, they didn’t let us. Oh by the way MGP showed exactly why I think he’ll be a Rovers player next season, he just didn’t fancy it. Thursday 6 April – Fresh from their “Let’s get behind Accy Stanley for promotion” campaign, launched when Stanley were walking away with the league, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph launches a “Let’s get behind Blackburn Rovers” initiative in an attempt to increase attendances….. with three homes games to go. This’ll be followed up in October with a “Win tickets to the World Cup Final” and the inevitable “Help beat the drought” campaigns. Saturday 8 April – Portsmouth 2 – Rovers 2. Two fantastic goals from Bellamy in this one. What can you say about Craig Bellamy? Well other than he scored two fantastic goals in this one you can also say that he’s rather good. I’d even go as far as saying he’s the best forward we’ve had since Alan Shearer. Let’s just pray he’s here next season. Unfortunately we were up against a resurgent Pompey. They scored through Louie Louie and Toddisoff. They look favorites to stay up to me in this form, they did us a favour and drew with Arsenal four days later an all. On the journey back Rovers were hit by lightning. If only Bellamy was flying the plane, they’d have been too quick for it. Apparently the pilot saw some clouds, said they’d be some turbulence and to let him do the worrying. He then weighed the situation up and decided to head straight for the cloud bank instead of driving round it like what I’d have done. It’s so obvious, and it makes you wonder how people get these jobs. What else does he do? Does he stand under trees on golf courses with his umbrella up when there’s a storm? When changing a bulb does he stick his tongue in the light socket to check if he’s turned the power off? Does he have a season ticket for turf moor? Monday 10 April – Rovers sign Zurab Khizanishvili (or Johnny Slippers as I call him, there’s something not quite right about a centre half wearing white boots) from Rangers for an undisclosed fee. I can exclusively reveal though that we got him for free. Rangers felt a bit guilty about the Amourso and Ferguson thing and didn’t have the front to ask for any money. Then again we got Tugay and he signed a new contract that’ll keep him at Ewood until the end of next season, so maybe things have evened themselves out? Nah. Saturday, no sorry, Sunday. Or was it Saturday? Who knows, it’s all very confusing. Anyway, round about the middle of the month we played Liverpool at home. The LET campaign is clearly working as Liverpool sold out the entire Darwen End and we enjoy one of our biggest gates of the season. Blackburn Rovers 0 Liverpool 1. Robbie Fowler scored the only goal of the game. Cisse was so far offside he was spotted in the concourse of the Blackburn End buying a pie. A dreadful decision by the officials as it went against us but the problem surely is that the rule is open to interpretation. Does anyone think that had it been us on the attack, and say for example Bentley was stood in an offside position, then it wouldn’t have been a free kick? Of course it would, the linesman would have had his arm up quicker than Cisse changes his hair style. More depressing news was to follow though I’m afraid. Wednesday 19 April. Big Club 2 Blackburn Rovers 1. Mucky Butt and Fossil with the goals for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, this result briefly got them out of the bottom three. Ex Big Club player and still a favourite with the locals, Roberto de Savage scored our goal, an equalizer on 78mins. It came from a parried shot, which was taken with a complete lack of a sense of humour, but very efficiently, from our German substitute Sergio Peter. Andy Todd spat his dummy out, something that he seems to make a habit of round about this time of year, by throwing the captains arm band to the floor on being substituted for the defensively inept Aaron Mokeona. He nearly gave a penalty away, he’s a liability I’m afraid and should only play in that defensive midfield role. Hey! But what do I know? Mark Hughes was last spotted on the M65 looking for some wheels that have fallen off. Still it’s not all bad news, no game now until Saturday 29 April. Thursday 20 April. 6.50pm. I get a phone call from Mark Hughes. “Here we go” I thought, he’s going to give me some grief about something I’ve said on the website, but no. He starts telling me about the early bird season ticket renewal scheme. I tried to stop him and explain that I’ve already renewed but what does he do? He just talks all over me, extremely rude, he just didn’t listen. Of course I appreciate his efforts and taking the time to give me a call but in the end I just put the phone down on him. I wonder if this is how he does his team talks? Brian Kidd would have listened. And lit a candle. Friday 21 April. Further revelations are er, revealed, about the Brum match. Despite nearly everyone connected with Birmingham City slagging Robbie Savage off in the press for the last 16 months to anyone who’d listen, and there are many, David Gold insists that he is now over that episode and wishes Savage could put it behind him. What a nice fella eh? During the warm up for the big match with the Big Club and with all Big Club’s fans booing his every move, Robbie turns down the kind offer to shake Gold’s hand. Bizarrely Gold can’t understand why. Monday 24 April. BRFCS.com member, half man / half duck, Yorkshire exile and Rovers addict Jordan (clearly no relation to the blow up doll of the same name) wins the prestigious title of Rovers fan of the year. Jordan has been to the last 259 consecutive games. Seeing how he lives in Harrogate that makes them all away games in my book! Well done that man! Tuesday 25 April. The debate about whether or not Craig Bellamy has a release clause in his contract reaches new heights and spins out of control. Does he or doesn’t he? No one knows. It’s exciting stuff. The LET ran an exclusive interview with the jet heeled Welsh weasel earlier in the season where Bellamy confirmed that he doesn’t, since then ‘award winning’ sports reporter Andy Neild has forgotten that he carried out this interview and the Lancashire Evening Telegraph now report that such a thing may well exist. Earlier this year they also point out, among other things, just how expensive it is to go to football these days, how much better it is to be a "Sports" fan in the USA, and isn’t it obscene just how much money the players earn these days. All of which were reasonably interesting articles, but presumably did not form part of their campaign to increase attendances at Ewood Park. With friends like these… So we’re back to where we started, no not the Jesus and Mary Chain, Charlton away. So come on lads! Get back to what you’re good at. Two more wins and this’ll be a remarkable season. European qualification would exceed all expectations. I mentioned earlier that defeat at Charlton would be unthinkable. Maybe, maybe not. On their day our team can beat anyone in this league, especially a hung over Chelsea. It’s in our hands. Two home games to come of a great season, raise the roof, VE Day atmosphere, be the 12th man, roar us into Europe, etc etc You get the picture. Come on Rovers!

April Review by Bob Fleming “Hey honey what you trying to say, As I stand here, Don’t you walk away, And the world comes tumbling down” – so sang Jim Reid of top indie pop combo The Jesus and Mary Chain many moons ago in the song “April Skies”. And it’s totally irrelevant. Apart from it has the word April in the title. So that’ll do for me. It’s not been the best of months though has it? I’m doing this now before the Charlton match for a couple of reasons: I’ll have more to say in May and defeat on Saturday would be too depressing to write about. So gird your loins and let's head to the start of the month…. Continued.........

Rovers reserves returned to Ewood tonight in style with a 4-0 win against Lancashire rivals Wigan Athletic. Italian striker De Vita scored a hat trick to make it 6 goals in 6 games and Craig Barr got the 4th goal for Rovers in a game that they controlled from start to finish.

Rovers striker Paul Gallagher has been recalled from his loan spell with Championship club Stoke City, where he was their top scorer with 12 goals in 35 starts. With only 1 game left for Stoke, Gallagher has returned to Rovers where he may get a chance to show his skills in one or more of Rovers remaining 3 fixtures, starting with Charlton away on Saturday, before Rovers entertain Chelsea and City at Ewood Park.

The game is today, whats the point of going tomorrow. Please note No tickets for the Liverpool game will be on sale today SUNDAY. TICKET OFFICE NOTICE The ticket office will be open to sell tickets for Birmingham, Chelsea and Charlton

Morecambe are also in the play-off zone after beating Tom Pringle's Tamworth 3-0 this afternoon,

Congratulations to Accrington Stanley for reclaiming their place in the League after a 44-year absence. Accrington went up as Champions after beating Woking 1-0 this afternoon.

How many Rovers fans at the beginning of the season would have contemplated that with five games remaining Rovers would have been challenging for Europe. Easter Sunday, Rovers take on Liverpool at Ewood, knowing that three points would put the pressure on European qualifying rivals Arsenal and Spurs who both play on Saturday. Arsenal against relegation threatened West Brom whilst Spurs travel to Goodison. With the exception of Tugay ( injured) and on-loan Pongolle who is ineligible to play, Mark Hughes has a full squad to choose from. Liverpool have been allocated the whole of the Darwen End of the ground and supporters should be aware that no tickets will be on sale on the day of the game. LIVERPOOL PREVIEW

I take it youve not been to the Blues Bar on a non match-day.

Rovers have today signed Zurab Khizanishvili for an undisclosed transfer fee. Zurab who has been on loan from Rangers since the start of the season, has signed a 3 year deal that will keep him at Ewood until 2009

Dont know if its been posted elsewhereLE SAUX WALKS OUT ON BBC

Despite taking the lead twice, through Craig Bellamy, this afternoon against Portsmouth, it was a disappointing result for Rovers as they dropped 2 valuable points in the chase for European Qualification. After the game Rovers manager Mark Hughes stated. "We are disappointed because we’ve lead the game twice away from home. We wanted the full three points so it may be viewed as two points lost." "Fratton Park is a difficult place to come, so it was a positive that we got our noses in front. "But it was a negative that we were not able to protect the lead and we feel hard done by that we didn't win. "Portsmouth are fighting for their lives in the Premiership and credit to them they put us under pressure and came from behind twice."

Unless I have missed something, Hughes didnt say we deserved to win today, but that he was disappointed that we threw away the lead twice. What Mark Hughes said after todays game: "Fratton Park is a difficult place to come, so it was a positive that we got our noses in front. "But it was a negative that we were not able to protect the lead and we feel hard done by that we didn't win. "Portsmouth are fighting for their lives in the Premiership and credit to them they put us under pressure and came from behind twice." "We are disappointed because weve lead the game twice away from home. We wanted the full three points so it may be viewed as two points lost."

The outcome of a number of games this weekend could set an appetizer for capacity crowd at Ewood on Easter Sunday against Liverpool as Rovers challenge of Europe. With Spurs kicking off at 12.45 today against Man City, Rovers will know prior to kick off against Portsmouth how crucial a win will be. Should Spurs loose to City, Rovers will know that 3 point this afternoon would move them into 4th place in the league, a place they could retain should Arsenal loose at Old Trafford tomorrow. Plus if Bolton loose to Liverpool it would increase the gap between Rovers and the Wanderers to 8 points. I wonder when was the last time Rovers were cheering on Man United, City and Liverpool ? However, wins for all 3 clubs will be have been futile if Rovers cant pick up maximum points on the South Coast against the rejuvenated Portsmouth. Despite Portsmouth’s low league position, they have become a force in recent weeks, winning their last 3 games as they attempt to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. Rovers will therefore need to concentrate and if needs be grind out a 1-0 win and silence the Pompey Chimes. Portsmouth Preview

With just 6 games left and the club pushing for European Qualification, Rovers manager Mark Hughes is already making plans for next season. Yesterday he completed the extension of Tugay’s contract when the midfield maestro signed a new contract that keeps him at the club until the summer of 2007. Two other players, who also extended their contracts this week were keeper Peter Enckelman and 18 year old defender Tony Kane. Mark Hughes is now attempting to finalise contract details with hot shot, midfielder Steven Reid, who is quoted as saying. I'm playing the best football of my career and loving every minute. We're flying at the minute and I want to be part of it for a long time. Mark Hughes also hopes to convert Zurab Khizanishvili's season-long loan from Rangers into a permanent move to Ewood. One player who wont be part of Hughes’s plans for next season is ex Rangers defender Lorenzo Amoruso whose current contract expires this summer. Mark Hughes is quoted as saying. Lorenzo is out of contract this summer, and it's fair to say he won't be offered another deal. Hughes is also being quoted as saying that a decision hasn't been made on whether to negociate a new contract with left back Vratislav Gresko, who is also out of contract this summer.

Times have changed at Ewood Park, there is a new optimism being instilled by Mark Hughes, instead of the constant reminders by Graeme Souness that premiership survival was the main objective, European Qualification has been Hughes’s ambition from the summer and a win tomorrow night gives Rovers a greater opportunity of European football next season. Rovers players are once again becoming house hold names for entertainment and ability, with 2 players having already won the BBC Goal of the Month Trophy. Morten Gamst Pedersen, Rovers v Fulham (20 August) and Steven Reid, Wigan v Rovers (31 December) Craig Bellamy has now been nominated for the March Goal of the Month. Rovers v Middlesborough (18 March) Even the media are taking the Rovers turn around seriously, with last seasons bully boy label being dropped to be replaced with the accolades that this seasons performances have duly deserved. A win tomorrow will move Rovers up from 6th to 5th above Arsenal and equal on points with 4th place Spurs, plus 7 points clear of Bolton who are currently on 48 points in 7th place. There is renewed excitement about following the Rovers again and memories of epic encounters come flooding back, who, of those that were there, could forget VE night against Newcastle. Hughes has gelled a team together that Rovers supporters and Blackburn can be proud of, now it’s the supporters and the people of Blackburn’s turn to get behind the team for that final push to qualify for Europe. With just 7 games left, the remaining 4 home games at Ewood are now Cup Finals, so lets all make that extra effort for the next few weeks, starting tomorrow night against Wigan. Lets get behind the team in full voice from start to finish. Lets be Hughes 12th man to lift the team to glory and make it Fortress Ewood, once again, so that in years to come we can remember the memories and tell our grandchildren we were there when Rovers emerged again as force in English football. Wigan Preview Click Here

Picture courtesy of BBC NEWS

With continued speculation in the media that Manchester City are chasing the signature of Rovers Scottish International striker Paul Dickov, it would appear that Rovers manager Mark Hughes has already arranged a replacement for Dickov's No. 10 shirt.

Sunday 5 March – Tottingham Hotspurs 3 – Blackburn Rovers 2. What a cracking game. I seem to be saying that sort of thing quite a lot in this review lark. Some of the best football I’ve seen for a long, long time from a Blackburn Rovers side. At one point in a ten minute period we had 84% possession. Which, as we’re all aware, counts for nowt if you don’t win. Robbie Keane scored twice, he punched one in but took the other well after the linesman suffered temporary blindness when awarding Spurs a throw. Pongolle scored a cracking diving header from a Bellamy cross to get us back in it just before half time, making amends for missing an absolute sitter earlier in the game when his legs stopped working. Roles were reversed with our equaliser, Pongolle cutting back for Bellamy who scored with a splendid finish. And that’s how it ended. Oh yeah, apart from Mido scored and Stalteri handled in the box in the last minute, but to no-ones surprise, he got away with it. We drop to 6th. Clearly not the best day at the office for the officials and all credit to Mark Hughes in his post match interview, he kept his cool brilliantly. Here’s a manager who will not be falling out with the men in black / yellow / green / purple as a result of comments made in the heat of the moment. These guys hold grudges and nobody can tell me otherwise, they’re like little egotistic, bad-tempered, power mad chameleons. We’ve had a bit of bad luck in a couple of games this season, maybe we’re due a little more good luck? Still despite the result I was already looking forward to our next game against Villa. Wednesday 9 March. Roberto de Savage (copyright Stuart Hall) and alleged homosexual / confirmed ex-burnley footballer (the only dingle in the village?) Leighton James, have a bit of a do live on top Welsh radio station, Abergavenny FM. James insists that his close “friend”, Wales Manager John Toshack, has never had an apology from Savage after he decided to drop him from his squad, which is mainly comprised of Championship, League One and League Two players, an ex-character from Sky One’s Dreamteam and Giggsy Wiggsy. Never had an apology?!? Is he kidding? Apparently “Tosh” doesn’t have a mobile phone says James - "Why should he?" Neither, it would appear, does he have a television or a radio. Nor does he ever buy a newspaper. Savage needs to write an apology to Toshack, advises Leighton. A bit of a gamble that Robbie, he’s probably boarded up his postbox an all. Unfortunately for the Welsh FA, it would appear that they’ve appointed Howard Hughes rather than the next Mark Hughes. Saturday 11 March. Blackburn Rovers 2 – Aston Villa 0. Todd and Bellamy with the goals, both screamers, especially Todd’s, he’ll not hit one that cleanly again for a while. The result just goes to show what a funny old game it really is *shakes head and chuckles to himself*. We played badly and won, the previous week we played brilliantly and lost. So there was a big debate about what would you rather have? Play well and lose or play badly and win. To me it’s blindingly obvious that Mark Hughes tells the players to go out and play like Brazil in the 1970 World Cup. Unfortunately that’s not always possible. In fact it’s never been possible. Mainly because of the opposition’s childish tactics that prevent us from expressing ourselves. One day though you just never know. Wednesday 15 March. Following his presumed exit from Newcastle United, ex-Rovers coach and the Overlord of All Evil™, Dean Saunders is spotted in Iran with a hung-over Alan Murray, assisting with the development of nuclear weapons. Thursday 16 March. The Liverpool match is moved for the second time. Liverpool announced this on their own web site before Blackburn Rovers did, as though they made the decision. In my opinion we did the right thing. It was just the way it was it was orchestrated that was a bit off…. Rick Parry: “Hello John? Hi! It’s Rick.” John Williams: *silence* RP: “It’s Rick Parry!....” JW: *silence* RP: “Rick Parry from Liverpool?.....” JW: *oh sh1t* RP: “Rick Parry from Liverpool Football Club?...... “ JW: *Here we go, what does he want now?* - “… Oh it’s Rick! Hi Rick, how are you?” RW: “You with me now! Yeah I’m great thanks. You? Yeah, whatever. Anyway right I’ll get straight down to my business. Listen John, would you mind if we pi**ed you about a bit more? We’re going to have to move your home match again. Yes I know we said that 5.15 on the Saturday was fine but that was a couple of weeks ago and we’re out of Europe now so our schedule isn’t so bad. Look, I know it’s short notice so it’s OK if you can’t move it, you’ll just look totally compassionless to the rest of the country. It’s not as though you need any good PR is it la?” Anyway, moving on. Saturday 18 March: Blackburn Rovers 3 Steve McClaren’s Middlesbrough 2. The ground was that empty at 3.00 I thought they’d started laying on free ale at the Hordens an all. But no, it was just the turnstiles breaking down at 2.50. It made me wonder under what circumstances Rovers would actually consider delaying the kick off, surely 10 minutes wouldn’t have mattered? Another home win. It’s almost getting predictable. A great battling performance. Bellamy opened the scoring at 9/2 with a neat bit of his typical weaseldry in their box and he curled a sublime finish low into the bottom corner past a static Mark Schwarzer. Viduka equalised after some Birmingham-City-esque defending on our part only for Pedersen to curl a sublime free kick from an acute angle into the bottom corner past a static Mark Schwarzer. Savage was then sent off for committing two bookable offences. The first saw him tackle someone and win the ball and the second was when a Boro player drove the ball at his hand from five yards. The referee clearly had no option but to ignore any semblance of common sense and send him off. Therefore becoming the first referee to send Robbie off in domestic football. That’s something to bore his grandchildren with. Rickenbacker equalised and it looked like there would only be one winner. Then the Welsh Weasel scored a fantastic third for us. Cutting in from the right he unleashed a swerving, bending, bullet of a dipper (it seemed to move a bit in the air before straightening out and then dipping again and bending, with a slight suspicion of swerve) with his right foot into the right hand corner of Mark Schwazer’s goal. Instead of diving he’d have been better off just being static. A fantastic result for us and the first time we’d won with 10 men since 1932. We stay 6th. Tuesday 21 March – Liverpool fans notice that Steve Bruce has a rather large head during their 7-0 win away win at Big Club in the FA Cup. However it’s worth pointing out that he is not an animal. He’s a human being. Saturday 25 March. It’s all aboard Gav’s European Bus of Culture for a couple of light ales and we’re off to Sunderland. Slumberland 0 Blackburn Rovers 1. They’re really not very good. We’re better. We got the goal and then did just enough to hang on. A bit too confident? Possibly. I’d have felt happier with a 2-0 lead. Still it was yet another three points thank to Steven Reid’s amazing goal. Like a taller, skinnier, Irish Cockney Diego Maradona, with no hair, he collected the ball in his own half and simply tore through the Sunderland midfield and defence as though they weren’t there (…actually, thinking about it….) before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the centre of the goal which forced their keeper to dive out of the way. We move up to fifth, Arsenal didn’t play. That’s the end of the month. A month where we’ve won another three games and played Spurs off the park - but lost. A month that, in terms of points won, confirms us as the best team in the Premier League in 2006 (although ManU can equal that this evening). So the next time someone says to you that they aren’t going to Ewood Park and reels off some excuse for not going (you’ve heard them all before - it’s almost become fashionable to think up new ones) then just tell them it’s their loss. What lies ahead? Well we can make fourth spot. It’s a tall order but as I mentioned at the end of February: “The players are showing a real belief and a desire to win that we haven’t seen for a few years. Maybe we can do it? Maybe this is our time?” Hopefully we’ll still be in with a shout of fourth at the end of April, although just getting into Europe would be a massive achievement. This season is drawing to a close faster than any other I can remember for a long, long time. I don't want it to end! Whatever happens from hereon in Rovers have taken great strides forward. Long may it continue. Thank you Mark Hughes.

By Bob Flemming No more games in March, so here goes.... March. “Mad March”. “As Mad As A March Hare”. “Marching All Together” as they say in Leeds (to worry sheep). “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” apparently. “Beware the ides of March!” -Which is Shakespearean for “Watch yersel on March the 15th lad”. Fortunately we’ve no game on that date, so we should be OK. See you learn something by reading this rubbish every month. It’s not just about the cold hard facts and what happened with the Rovers. Thursday 2 March - Ryan Nelsen was warned about his future behaviour following a charge from the FA of improper conduct, after the home defeat to Everton on December 03 2005. In case you’ve forgotten, and I’m presuming that the FA must make notes, Nelsen stated that referee Mark Halsey has a history of sending Rovers players off. A heinous crime. Fortunately Nelsen has since learnt his lesson and has promised to never tell the truth again. Actually, more to the point, to never tell the truth in ear shot of the FA. continued click on View Entire Article

I can see where your coming from ozziejones, but consider how do you sort out seating from the turnstiles. If it was a sit anywhere policy, not to difficult however with seats already reserved by season ticket holders, how do you implement sales of specific seats at the turnstile, without a link to the seating data base. Result queue at turnstile.

Whats the difference between paying at the turnstile and paying at the ticket office.?

A solitary 15th min goal by Stephen Reid ensured Rovers gained maximum points this afternoon against Sunderland, at the Stadium of Light, Reid weaved his way through the Sunderland defence in the 15th minute to unleashed another of his powerful stingers from 18 yards out, giving Davies in the Black Cats net no chance.

Match Preview by Eddie Well it is crunch time in the Premiership at the moment and we need three points from every game, so who better to play than Sunderland. If you could ever be sure that if a game went true to form we would come out with the three points it would have to be this one. Despite our relatively poor away form (given our home form and league position) Sunderland have the worst home record in the league and have in fact yet to win a game at the Stadium of Light in the league this season. They are 17 points off of safety and given that there are only 8 games left in the season they have little other than pride to play for. It was only just over a month ago that Sunderland travelled to Ewood to play the re-arranged match. The game finished 2-0 with Bellamy scoring both of the goals and nearly grabbing his first Rovers hat-trick late on. That game was our chance to bounce back after two disappointing defeats to Everton and West Brom away, this time we come into the game on the back of two home victories, hopefully the result will be the same. The chase for the UEFA cup spots, if not the Champions League, is still very much alive. We go into this game only three points behind fourth spot, something even the most optimistic of Rovers fans would not have believed at the beginning of the season. However, complacency cannot set in. We are also sitting only 10 points ahead of 13th spot and defeat on Saturday could see us drop as low as 8th. We are all well aware of the fact that Bolton are only a point behind and have two games in hand, but all we can do is keep winning and hope that other teams slip up. With Arsenal away at Portsmouth and Spurs at home to West Brom it is only Bolton playing a team not involved in the relegation dogfight. Hopefully those two teams will do themselves and us a favour and pull off surprise results. While we could also do with Middlesbrough bouncing back from last weekends defeat at Ewood by beating Bolton at the Riverside. As for Sunderland, it is difficult to say who exactly we should fear in their team. There is no doubt that they have players with better ability then they have perhaps shown this season, but they have struggled to score goals, with only 19 this season, and have also conceded at a rate of nearly two a game. Their top league goal scorers are Whitehead and Lawrence, both with three, and we all know that they the striker with the worst goal draught in the Premiership in the form of ex-Rover Stead. We do always have to fear the possibility of former players getting goals against us, but I’m not even sure if Stead will start in this match. They’ve failed to score in nearly half of their matches in the Premiership this year and have kept only three clean sheets. They’ve picked up two points in their last six home matches but haven’t won home or away in eight. Everything points to a Rovers win, but that is exactly what makes me so worried. It would be typical of our side to give Sunderland their first home win and throw our European aspirations into serious doubt by losing a game at such a crucial stage of the season that we should win easily. Hopefully Tugay will be back from his injury as this seems to be the perfect game for him, other than that the only player we should have out is Savage who will be suspended, if anyone can finally figure out whether this is the only game of his suspension or the first of two or three (?), then that would be great. If not I would expect the same team as played in our last match with Bentley slipping into central midfield alongside Reid if Tugay is not back. I’m not brave enough to make a prediction as I don’t want to jinx the result, but hopefully the boys won’t let us down, they can’t afford to. Fans Predictions Click here