English Premier League preview: Blackburn v Tottenham

Blackburn Rovers’ players are desperate to win for under-fire manager Steve Kean when Tottenham visit Ewood Park on Sunday.

Rovers are languishing at the foot of the English Premier League table on just five points from their eight matches and, with a march and sit-in protest planned by the fans for Sunday’s match, a loss could prove the death knell for Kean.

Striker Yakubu – a transfer-deadline signing from Everton – said the players were aware of the pressure facing them but were firmly in Kean’s camp.

“All the players are behind Steve Kean. When he talks to us in training, we are impressed. It’s our job to go out there and win – and that’s all we focus on,” Yakubu told BBC Sport.

“We just have to stick together and do our job. In the end those fans will be with us again.”

“But the pressure isn’t on the team when you’re losing, it is always going to be put on the manager.”

Blackburn battled to a draw at QPR last Saturday thanks to Chris Samba’s first-half equaliser, but will face a much sterner test in the shape of Harry Redknapp’s Spurs.

Redknapp rested a host of first-team players in Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win over Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, while the likes of Ledley King, William Gallas, Michael Dawson and Vedran Corluka are all on the treatment table.

Tom Huddlestone, Steven Pienaar and Niko Kranjcar are also on the mend, with Aaron Lennon and Sandro among the more senior players to start against Rubin Kazan and in the frame for Sunday’s match.

Spurs, sixth in the Premier League on 13 points, know they must keep up in touch with the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea above them, after suffering heavy defeats to both Manchester clubs earlier in the season.