Blackburn Rovers FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Steve Kean

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

Preview: Blackburn v Everton

12 Aug 2010 - 15:19:22

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Everton make the short trip to Blackburn Rovers as they get their Premier League campaign underway.

David Moyes' side will be looking for some better luck on the injury front after suffering miserably last term.

The Toffees narrowly missed out on a place in Europe as city rivals Liverpool secured the final Europa League berth and they certainly have the players to go close again this season.

Moyes' opposite number, Sam Allardyce, will be looking to stamp his mark further on the Ewood Park-based outfit and will know the importance of grabbing valuable wins on home soil.

Rovers ended the season in an admirable tenth position and, although they may do well to replicate that result in May, will prove a tough nut to crack.

New Everton strikers Magaye Gueye, who arrived from Strasbourg, and Leeds United's Jermaine Beckford will be out to impress in the top-flight while Mame Biram Diouf will be staking his Blackburn claim after joining on a season-long loan from Manchester United.

Impressive defender Martin Olsson will be missing for the hosts owing a knee injury while bulldozing striker Victor Anichebe is unlikely to be ready as he struggles to overcome his own knee problem.

Blackburn have endured a problematic pre-season campaign as successive defeats to Preston North End, Huddersfield Town, Rangers and AEK Athens stymied their preparations.

However, they turned the corner to an extent with a 2-1 win over Sydney FC before drawing 1-1 with Hearts.

They rounded off their friendlies with a 2-1 triumph over Celtic with David Dunn and Alan Judge amongst the goals.

Everton claimed three consecutive wins on their tour of Australia during July as they saw off Sydney FC, Melbourne Heart and Brisbane Roar.

Further wins over Preston, Norwich City and Everton of Chile followed, but they also fell to a 2-0 defeat against Wolfsburg in Germany.

In the corresponding fixture last term, Everton snatched a dramatic 3-2 win at Ewood Park on April 17.

Playmaker Mikel Arteta opened the scoring inside five minutes from the spot before Steven Nzonzi fizzed home a fine equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.

Yakubu put the visitors back in front, but Jason Roberts levelled once more before Tim Cahill tapped home the late winner.