09/04/2010 07:52 - ManUtd, Frankie Theobalds
Match Pack: Blackburn
United can return to the top of the table with a win at Ewood Park on Sunday, but Blackburn would like nothing more than to thow a spanner in the works...
Form guide: Mid-table Blackburn’s home form has been the reason why they can look forward to top-flight football next term, having been stuck in the relegation quagmire for the first half of the campaign. A 2-1 win over Birmingham and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea are latest results in a seven-game unbeaten league run at Ewood Park this year. United will be determined to banish the hurt of Wednesday's European exit to Bayern Munich with a victory that would lift the Reds back to the top of the table, with Chelsea not in league action until midweek. United beat Blackburn 2-0 at Old Trafford in October and are unbeaten in eight matches with our north-west neighbours.
Ins and outs: Although Wayne Rooney was a surprise starter against Bayern, he was taken off after 55 minutes with an aggravation of his ankle injury, and Sir Alex's post-match quotes suggest he will not be back until the Manchester derby on April 17. John O’Shea came on for Wayne to end a five-month lay-off with a thigh problem. while the Reds' other absentees are Danny Welbeck (knee), Michael Owen (hamstring), Anderson (knee), Wes Brown (toe) and Owen Hargreaves (knee). Blackburn are waiting on late fitness tests for Keith Andrews (calf), Yildiray Basturk (hamstring) and Lars Jacobsen (groin), while Ryan Nelsen came through 90 minutes for the Reserves this week, having been out of the team since February with a knee injury.
Star man: Attacking midfielder David Dunn is Rovers' top scorer with nine goals this season. He’s back to full fitness after being plagued by an Achilles injury at the end of last season and the start of this one. Dunn was the toast of his hometown last month when he scored the winner against Burnley from the spot. It was his third goal in two games following a brace in the win over Birmingham.
Manager: After steering Bolton to promotion to the Premier League in 2001/02, Sam Allardyce has become one of the longest-serving managers in the top flight. A good friend of Sir Alex, 'Big Sam' left the Trotters in 2007, citing a desire to win silverware as his reason for moving on. A short, unsuccessful spell at Newcastle followed, before he took up the reins at Blackburn in December 2008. He has guided his side to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup this term, with his team now on 42 points, his target for the campaign is 50. “It would be a great finish to the season,” he says. “We've a lot to do to get there, given the difficulty of the games we have to play, but it is possible.”
Referee: This will be the fourth time that Peter Walton has taken charge of a United game this season. He’s officiated twice when United have faced Wolves – in the Carling Cup win in September, when he sent off Fabio, and March’s 1-0 league victory at Molineux. Walton was also in the middle for February’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, in which Nani received his marching orders, and the 4-0 triumph at West Ham in December.
Rivals watch: Chelsea face Villa in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and their next league match is against Bolton on Tuesday. Third-placed Arsenal make the short trip to Spurs for Wednesday's north-London derby.