Kickoff: Sunday, 11 April 2010, Kick-off 13:30 BST
Ewood Park, Blackburn
It's been a miserable if not traumatic week for defending champions Manchester United; beaten by Premier League title rivals Chelsea last weekend and then, despite leading 4-2 in the tie at one point, being bundled out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich and their ex-Chelsea winger Arjen Robben. Now they must put those disappointments behind them and refocus on trying to secure an unprecedented fourth successive English top-flight championship.
But they could have wished for an easier assignment than a trip across Lancashire to take on in-form Blackburn Rovers, who are unbeaten in their last four games and without a home defeat since the opening day of the campaign. Sam Allardyce may be honorary president of the Sir Alex Ferguson Appreciation Society, but he'd relish putting one over United at Ewood Park tomorrow.
Ferguson surprisingly named Wayne Rooney as a starter for the midweek Champions League clash against Bayern Munich while nursing a sore ankle, with the United talisman picking up yet another injury in the process. With Rooney certain to miss the Red Devil's trip to Ewood Park, Ferguson will be forced to pass the scoring duties to Dimitar Berbatov and the rest of the vengeful Red Devils squad.
Allardyce will be hoping his squad give a similar performance to that which saw off Liverpool and Chelsea at Ewood Park this season. Rovers are in a fine run of form and have only dropped two games out of 16 this season at home. Blackburn's impressive home form will have Ferguson delicately picking his line-up for this Lancashire derby.
FORM GUIDE
Blackburn
03 Apr (Premier League) v Portsmouth (A) DREW 0-0
28 Mar (Premier League) v Burnley (A) WON 1-0
24 Mar (Premier League) v Birmingham (h) WON 2-1
21 Mar (Premier League) v Chelsea (h) DREW 1-1
13 Mar (Premier League) v Tottenham (A) LOST 1-3
28 Feb (Premier League) v Liverpool (A) LOST 1-2
Man Utd
07 Apr (Champions League) v Bayern Munich (h) WON 3-2
03 Apr (Premier League) v Chelsea (h) LOST 1-2
30 Mar (Champions League) v Bayern Munich (A) LOST 1-2
27 Mar (Premier League) v Bolton (A) WON 4-0
21 Mar (Premier League) v Liverpool (h) WON 2-1
14 Mar (Premier League) v Fulham (h) WON 3-0
TEAM NEWS
Blackburn
Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen could return having been out since February with a knee injury but must dislodge in-form 18-year-old Phil Jones.
Vince Grella and Keith Andrews are also fit again and available for selection.
Last starting XI (v Portsmouth): Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Jones, Givet, Diouf (Hoilett 76), Nzonzi (Grella 64), Pedersen, Olsson, Dunn (Kalinic 80), Roberts. Subs not used: Brown, Emerton, Linganzi, Di Santo.
Doubtful: Basturk (hamstring)
Man Utd
Manchester United will be without Wayne Rooney, who aggravated his ankle injury after surprisingly starting in midweek against Bayern Munich.
John O'Shea, who came on in that game, has shown no ill effects after his five-month lay-off and could feature.
Injured: Anderson & Welbeck (both knee), Brown (toe), Owen (hamstring), Rooney (ankle).
Last starting XI (v Bayern Munich): Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael, Carrick (Berbatov 80).
Nani, Fletcher, Valencia, Gibson (Giggs 80), Rooney (O'Shea 55), Subs not used: Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes,
Macheda.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Blackburn
Rovers' Christopher Samba has impressed in the absence of injured captain Ryan Nelsen. The muscular defender will be called on to shore up Blackburn's back line as well as provide his ever-present aerial threat on set-pieces. With Nelson back in the fold, the pair will surely be crucial in keeping United's strike force at bay.
Man United
After a rough few years at Manchester United, midfielder Nani is finally emerging from behind the shadow left by Cristiano Ronaldo. A sublime run of games this season has allowed the Portuguese international to make a name for himself. The winger scored a splendid goal against Bayern and will be looked to by Ferguson to produce more of the same in the Premier League.
PREDICTION
Blackburn 1-2 Manchester United
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