Premier League preview: Blackburn v Stoke City

Blackburn will look to follow up a shock win at Manchester United with a home success against Stoke City on Monday.

In a terrific performance that will surely ease the pressure on under-fire Rovers boss Steve Kean, a pair of Yakubu strikes and a Grant Hanley header gave them a famous 3-2 win at Old Trafford against the reigning English Premier League champions.

The win lifted Blackburn off the foot of the table and came on the back of a battling 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Monday.

Both of those results came on the road but, if Kean can start to produce results at home, he may start to finally win over the Blackburn fans targeted him in their Rovers’ last match at Ewood Park, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Bolton.

The reality is still that Kean has a lot of work to do to impress the Rovers fans, but he can make a start with three points against Stoke City.

What is surprising about Blackburn’s struggles is that only five sides have scored more Premier League goals than them this season.

Part of the reason behind that is the form of Nigerian striker Yakubu, who has hit 12 goals, while talented youngsters Junior Hoilett, Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina have all impressed.

Rovers’ problems almost always relate to their defensive frailties, having conceded 41 goals in just 19 matches this season.

Injury problems to the experienced Ryan Nelsen (knee), Scott Dann (groin), Martin Olsson (hamstring) and Michel Salgado (rib) mean that Kean has had to call on a series of young players at the back in recent times, which has not helped.

He could welcome back Paul Robinson (calf) for the visit of Stoke, but back-up goalkeeper Mark Bunn has impressed in his absence.

Stoke’s form in the Premier League has been impressive of late, with Tony Pulis’ men having dropped just one of their last seven matches.

They sit in eighth position on the table but will be hoping that 2012 is kinder in terms of away form, with Stoke having won just three of 19 trips in 2011.

Irish midfielder Glenn Whelan (calf) will miss out for Stoke, while history shows that five of the seven Premier League matches between the two sides have been won by the home team.