[EPL] 20.3 Blackburn - Sunderland

[Jezter]

Blackburn welcome Sunderland on Tuesday night hoping to continue what had earlier in the season looked like an unlikely quest for Premier League survival.

Martin O'Neill recorded a victory over Blackburn in his first game in charge of Sunderland back in December at the Stadium of Light, which left his opposite number, Steve Kean, seemingly clinging to his job.

Fans were protesting against Kean and it seemed only a matter of when, not if, the Scot would be dismissed by Blackburn owners Venky's.

The injury-time 2-1 defeat to Sunderland was the first of three in succession in the Premier League, with the third being the loss to Bolton which was billed as a sack race between Kean and Owen Coyle.


But Kean survived and has since guided Blackburn out of the relegation zone, following a recent run of just one defeat in their last four league games.
Finale

Survival is still far from certain, but Blackburn have a greater reason for hope ahead of their return match with Sunderland.

O'Neill, though, has himself brought about a fantastic turnaround in fortunes since taking over at Sunderland and the club sit ninth in the table.

A draw with Everton in the FA Cup quarter-final at the weekend means there is still a replay and a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

And O'Neill has himself admitted he could not have envisaged such a finale to the season having inherited a struggling club.

Sunderland can also take encouragement from a seven-match unbeaten run against Blackburn in the league and the fact their hosts have not kept a clean sheet in 15 overall home games.

Problem

Kean has virtually a fully-fit squad after defender Bradley Orr, who missed the win at Wolves last time out with a hamstring problem, returned to training and played in a practice match.

Midfielder David Dunn has recovered from an Achilles injury, so only Vince Grella is unavailable.

Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley is fighting to be fit, as the former Manchester United defender is battling to shake off a rib injury to retain his place in the team.

But left-back Kieran Richardson has been ruled out with the calf problem which kept him out of the draw at Goodison Park.

Striker Stephane Sessegnon completes his three-match ban and will be available for Saturday's league clash with QPR.

Midfielder Lee Cattermole is not available, as he serves the last instalment of his four-match suspension.

Defenders Wes Brown (knee) and Titus Bramble (Achilles/calf) remain on the sidelines.

Possible starting XIs:

Blackburn: Robinson, Martin Olsson, Hanley, Dann, Pedersen, Marcus Olsson, Lowe, N'Zonzi, Formica, Yakubu, Hoilett.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Bridge, Larsson, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Campbell, Bendtner.

[Jezter]

Blackburn 2 - 0 Sunderland

[Goofy]

Great result for Rovers, 6 points clear of the drop now! Scottish manager