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Championship

Aug 28, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Blackburn Blackburn Rovers
0-0
Bolton Bolton Wanderers

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Bolton Wanderers

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 27 August 2015

Sports Mole casts its eye forward to Friday night's Championship match as struggling Lancashire duo Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers meet at Ewood Park.

The Friday night game on matchday five of the Championship is a Lancashire derby as Blackburn Rovers host Bolton Wanderers at Ewood Park.

Both sides are struggling in the bottom three with two points from a possible 12 and still waiting for their first win of the season.

Blackburn

After failing to score for the first time this season and dropping into the bottom three on Saturday with defeat at early high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion, it looked like Gary Bowyer might be out of a job.

Reports later that evening suggested that Bowyer had been sacked, but the club quickly moved to back to their manager and, for the time being, his position seems secure.

Still, Bowyer will know that he needs to get that first win soon, not only to make his position safe but also to move Rovers away from the drop zone.

This match will also be viewed as especially important given Rovers' fixtures after the upcoming international break. They travel to the other side currently on two points, Fulham, in their first game back before facing four of the current top six (Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Hull City and Ipswich Town) in consecutive games after that.

Blackburn have scored in 11 of their last 12 league games at Ewood Park, but they've also conceded in 10 of those matches and are without a clean sheet this season.

They are yet to concede in the second half of a match, with all five goals against them coming in the opening 45.

Recent form: LLDDL

Bolton

Neil Lennon's side finally found the net in their fifth game of the season thanks to Stephen Dobbie's last-gasp equaliser against Nottingham Forest after Gary Madine had seen an earlier penalty saved.

If you include their final two league games last season, it was a first Championship goal in six games and a big weight off their shoulders going into this match at Ewood.

When Lennon arrived last season, it was Bolton's record at home that played a large part in preserving their Championship status.

They are yet to win at the Macron Stadium this season, though, and have three chances to put that right in September when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton in three of their next four after the international break.

Away from home, Bolton have won only one of their last 12 and lost the last three in a row without scoring.

Recent form: DLLLD

Team News

Jordan Rhodes of Blackburn Rovers celebrates his goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley at Ewood Park on March 9, 2014

The big worry for the home side is with star man Jordan Rhodes. The striker, who looks set to remain at the club, scored the winner the last time Blackburn met Bolton in March and has netted four goals in three home games against the Trotters.

He has had to sit out Rovers' last two games with a knee injury and might not be risked as there is the two-week international break following which offers him a chance to fully recover.

Elsewhere for the home side, Ben Marshall will hope to start in a more advanced position after filling in at right-back for Adam Henley, who should return here after missing the trip to Brighton with illness.

Bolton are close to finalising a move for Spanish full-back Jose Manuel Casado, who has been training with the Trotters but is unlikely to be ready in time to feature at Ewood Park.

Derik Osede and Liam Trotter have returned to training but will not be available, while Darren Pratley and David Wheater remain sidelined.

Blackburn possible starting lineup:
Raya; Henley, Hanley, Duffy, Spurr; Marshall, Guthrie, Akpan, Conway; Delfouneso, Koita

Bolton possible starting lineup:
Amos; Wilson, Prince, Dervite, Moxey; Davies, Danns; Feeney, Clough, Silva; Madine

Head To Head

The last five matches between these two teams have been won by the home team, with Bolton the last to win on the road in November 2012.

The Trotters are looking to avoid a third successive defeat at Ewood Park against their neighbours; something which last happened to them in December 1999.

Video Preview

Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:

We say: Blackburn 1-1 Bolton

Although both are desperate for a first win, it should be a nervy affair and avoiding defeat might be more important that going all out for the win. Chances could be few and far between so we're going for a low-scoring draw.