Adam Davies
Sport News 24/7Blackburn home form keeps them ticking
By Adam Davies, on 25th March 2010, 15:54 UTC
Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce recently claimed that if the Barclays Premier League table was only based on home form, his side would be in the top four. He wasn't quite right, as Blackburn would be seventh behind Tottenham and Everton on goal difference, with the top four spots occupied by the usual suspects Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, but he was not far wrong. Rovers currently reside in 11th position in the overall table, but a quick glance at the home league standings shows us two things:
- If Liverpool could match their away form to that of at Anfield they would not be battling to get the fourth Champions League spot.
- Blackburn's away form must be fairly shocking as they are nowhere near challenging for Europe, let alone the top four.
Liverpool's season has been covered in great detail elsewhere, but Allardyce's positive spin on things has been rather less scrutinised. In fact, Blackburn would be in 18th position if away form was all that mattered. Having picked up a paltry six points on their travels from Ewood Park, it would be the understatement of the century to say that much can be improved.
However, Saturday April 3rd 2010 offers a fabulous opportunity to pick up only a second away win of the season. Blackburn will take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park, and although the Hampshire side are showing a great deal of heart in their matches, even without the 9 point penalty for going into administration Portsmouth would be bottom of the league. In the reverse fixture, Blackburn completed a convincing 3-1 victory despite going behind in the 15th minute to a Jamie O'Hara goal.
Last night Portsmouth lost 5-0 at home to Chelsea. While Blackburn are not of the calibre of Carlo Ancelotti's team, it is another low point for Pompey in a miserable season, and heads inevitably tend to drop - especially after such a drubbing. Blackburn beat notoriously difficult to break down Birmingham City 2-1, thanks to a brace from David Dunn, and this result coupled with a good value draw against Chelsea stands them in good stead for the visit to Pompey. With their last and only other away victory coming in November against the struggling Bolton Wanderers of Gary Megson (who has since been sacked), there will not be a better opportunity for Blackburn to overcome their away demons.
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