Rovers Vs Latics Preview

Latics go into this derby match on the back of some cracking form of late, last weeks win over Bolton having had Jason Koumas sent off after just 5 minutes epitomises the spirit in the team at the moment.

I believe today is a great chance to achieve a double over a Rovers side that is fast seeing their season dwindle away and they are surely going to end up with mid table mediocrity.

Blackburn away is a game that I always look for when the fixtures come out, not because we do well at Ewood, nothing could be farther from the truth, because it`s a trip that I like to make.

Blackburn is friendly club, very similar to ourselves, attendances are similar to ours with the fans being few in number compared to 'bigger` clubs but I believe a lot more passionate about their team.

Todays game is one that I have been looking forward to all season and to go there 'in form` gives us a great chance to pull off a win.

King and Heskey 2-1 thank you very much

Latics boss Steve Bruce:

'Our form is good and I've been delighted with the way we've played.

'We're inching towards that safety barrier and let's hope we can go and produce another performance like we did a few weeks ago against Blackburn and get a similar result.

'I'm looking forward to going to Ewood Park again. It's always a decent atmosphere, and we'll see what it brings up this time.'

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:

'We always try to emphasise the importance of starting well - starting in a positive frame of mind.

'When we do that the crowd gets behind you, you can get your noses in front and you see the game out.

'We need to start well against Wigan. If we get a head of steam and the crowd gets behind us there is no reason why we can't overcome a very good Wigan team.'

Blackburn are without Brett Emerton, Ryan Nelsen and Johann Vogel (who?)

Rovers from:

Friedel, Khizanisvili, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Roberts, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire, McCarthy, Brown, Mokoena, Tugay.

He is the one Blackburn player that I would have at the Latics and as we know he has an eye for goal

Jason Koumas starts his 3 game suspension for a tackle that was nowhere near as bad or dangerous as Ashley Coles in midweek, one rule for one.

Antione Sibierski is out with a calf injury he picked up last week so Marcus Bent comes back in te squad

Latics from:

Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Edman, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Kilbane, Heskey, King, Bramble, Sibierski, Taylor, Pollitt, Aghahowa, Bent, Olembe, Skoko.

Energetic, dynamic and skillful, what more could you want from a midfield player

This season at the JJB

Wigan Athletic 5-3 Blackburn Rovers

A cracking game saw a Marcus Bent hat-trick help Latics get the three points

Last season at Ewood

Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic

A great start with a Heskey goal after 2 minutes wasnt enough to take something away from Ewood, though a missed penalty by Todorov didnt help

Mike Dean (Wirral)

Card Watch:

Games - 22

Yellows - 83

Reds - 6

Heart says Latics 2-1 win

Head says 1-1 draw

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