Blackburn v Bolton

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Ewood Park Date: Saturday, 30 April Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Manchester 95.1FM and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Blackburn’s Steven Nzonzi returns after a three-match suspension but David Dunn misses out with a calf injury.

Junior Hoilett is rated “only 50/50” because of a hamstring strain while Roque Santa Cruz is also doubtful because of a similar problem.

Bolton striker Daniel Sturridge is again a doubt as he is still troubled by an ankle problem, as is Mark Davies.

Full-back Gretar Steinsson injured a knee in the midweek defeat to Fulham and may struggle to be fit in time.

Blackburn

Doubtful: Hoilett & Santa Cruz (both hamstring)

Injured: Dunn (calf), Grella (Achilles), Nelsen (knee)

Bolton

Doubtful: M Davies & Sturridge (both ankle), Steinsson (knee)

Injured: Davis & Holden (both knee), Ricketts (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

The derby between Blackburn and Bolton always raises the pulses along the East Lancs Road – even more so when a victory for one team could push the other into the relegation zone with just three games of the season left.

We want to be mathematically safe before the last two games and that is what we will be striving to do Blackburn manager Steve Kean

Blackburn are without a win in 10 league games and sit just a point above the bottom three – they were 13th when they sacked Sam Allardyce, whose last game in charge was the 2-1 defeat to Bolton in December.

With their remaining matches comprising a home game against Manchester United and tricky away fixtures at relegation rivals Wolves and West Brom, Rovers desperately need something from the clash with their local rivals.

Bolton slumped to a 3-0 defeat in midweek but Owen Coyle’s first full season as manager will be deemed a success whatever happens in the remaining fixtures.

Attractive football, a probable top 10 finish, an FA Cup semi-final – and the icing on the cake could well be Bolton’s first league double over Blackburn since 1978.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Ten-man Bolton beat Blackburn 2-1 at the DW Stadium in December, with Stuart Holden’s winner coming two minutes from time. That is the Trotters’ only victory in their last eight league matches against Rovers.

• Bolton also had a man sent off the last time they won at Ewood Park, Kevin Nolan getting a late red card in the 1-0 win in 2006.

• Blackburn did the double over Bolton last season; now the Trotters have the chance for their first double over Rovers since 1978.

Blackburn

• Rovers have gone 10 league matches without a win (D4, L6).

• Since Blackburn sacked Sam Allardyce after the 2-1 defeat against Bolton in December, Rovers have won three of 17 league matches, picking up 14 points. Only Blackpool (12) have fewer points over this period.

• Blackburn have not won any of their last five home matches in the Premier League. If they fail to win again, it will be their longest run without a league victory at Ewood Park in almost seven years, since a seven-match winless streak from October to December 2004.

• Morten Gamst Pedersen is awaiting his 250th start for the club.

Bolton

• Bolton have lost nine of their last 10 away league games. Their last Premier League win on the road was against Wolves in November.

• On-loan striker Daniel Sturridge has scored seven goals in nine league matches for Bolton.

• Kevin Davies has scored in two of his last three league visits to Ewood Park. He scored one goal in 21 league appearances for Blackburn in 1998/99.

• The Trotters have been in the top half of the table since the beginning of October.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Blackburn

Kalinic: 6 goals (5 league); Mame Diouf: 6 goals (3 league)

Bolton

Elmander: 12 goals (10 league); Sturridge: 11 goals (7 league)

*Includes 4 goals (0 league) for Chelsea

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Dean Mohareb & Glenn Turner

Fourth official: Peter Walton

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Blackburn (L0-1 v Man City, h): Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Phil Jones, Givet (Diouf 85), Emerton, Dunn (Rochina 63), Jermaine Jones, Olsson, Mwaruwari (Kalinic 71), Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Bunn, Formica, Pedersen, Hanley.

Bolton (L3-0 v Fulham, a): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson (Wheater 67), Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Muamba (Gardner 72), Cohen, Taylor, Elmander, Kevin Davies (Klasnic 72).

Subs Not Used: Bogdan, Petrov, Moreno, Blake.