Match preview - Fulham v Blackburn Rovers

25 November 2009 13:57
Fulham take on Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage on Wednesday evening with both teams looking to continue their rise away from the relegation zone.

Sam Allardyce's visitors will be guided once again by assistant boss Neil McDonald as Sam Allardyce is undergoing minor heart surgery.

Allardyce will have been impressed with his deputy as Rovers halted a run of five straight defeats on the road to record their first win on their travels at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.

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David Dunn was inspirational at the Reebok Stadium as he opened the scoring in the 2-0 success and will be looking to take his new-found confidence to the capital as the Lancashire outfit aim to grab back-to-back wins away from Ewood Park.

Stand-in boss McDonald will be keen to utilise his temporary role and show he has what it takes to manage at the top level following his acrimonious dismissal from League One side Carlisle United after just one game of the 2007-08 season.

Roy Hodgson's men fell to a disappointing 1-0 reversal at Birmingham City on Saturday and he will want his side to get back to winning ways at the earliest opportunity.

The St Andrew's defeat brought the Cottagers' five-game unbeaten run to an end.

Rovers sit in 11th place, five points away from the drop-zone while Fulham loiter one place below and one point behind.

They will both want to consolidate their mid-table position and add further breathing space in their quest to avoid the drop.

Fulham striker Erik Nevland has picked up a virus while Diomansy Kamara (ankle) and Andrew Johnson (groin) could be missing which puts pressure on Hodgson's attacking options.

Instrumental midfielder Danny Murphy (knee) could also miss out once again.

Source: DSG