Marcus Braddock previews Saturday's big game
Last week saw two massive results for Town, two wins where we had to really scrap for the points. Now we have a higher profile game against one time Premier League winners Blackburn Rovers. I really cant believe it was so long ago that they won it, it feels like just a few years back but it was actually the 1994/5 season. Whenever it was it's something to be proud of, as are their first division champion wins in 1911/12 and 1913/14 and their six F.A. Cup wins between 1884 and 1928. This is a proud old football club we're entertaining this weekend and one that is currently brushing home teams aside. Apart from an away defeat at Southend on the first day of the season, Blackburn have won all of their away games in League One and in the cup. They've only conceded once in those four games and have scored eight times.
The Manager
Tony Mowbray has been in the game for a long time and has been in charge of at least one truly massive club in Celtic. He's also been in charge at Middlesbrough, West Brom, Hibs. Coventry City, Ipswich and now Blackburn so a few big clubs in his resume too. He's tasted success as a manager, taking West Broom to the Premier League, won the Scottish Sportswriters manager of the year in 2004-2005 and also took the League Managers Association manager of the year in 2007-2008.
Top Scorer
Dominic Samuel 4
Charlie Mulgrew 3
Marcus Antonsson 2
Top Assists
Elliott Bennett 2
Elliott Ward 2
Clean Sheets
0 at home 3 in away games.
Goal Distribution
Blackburn have only conceded twice in the league away, both against Southend and both scored in the first half. The interesting stat this week is that of Rovers 6 goals in away games, four were scored just after half time so we need to start the second half well.
Referee
David Webb from Lancashire. Games this season: 11. Yellow card average: 2.73. Red card average: 0.
Assistants: Mark Dwyer and Daniel Leach.
Fourth Official: James Bell.
Squad News
Tony Mowbray will be without midfielders Rekeem Harper and Craig Conway. Defenders Scott Wharton and Ryan Nyambe and Darragh Lenihan are also injured.
Bryn Morris is on the road to recovery but it's a bit early for him yet.
Prediction
You'll have to forgive me for continuously going for a 2-2 draw but it's become a bit of a superstition, I did it for all of the home pre-season games and all of our league games too so I'm not changing until it stops “working”. This is going to be a difficult afternoon and one that we should all be up for. The best team in the division so far and a recently fallen giant with a squad full of experience and ability. But we have our own combination of hard work and tenacity that has worked out well so far too. I would be happy enough with the draw actually, if it means keeping our unbeaten record going. This team may well be setting its sights a bit higher than me though.
Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Blackburn Rovers
COYB!!!
Marcus