Relegation Tip: Blackburn

When Blackburn scored in the 93rd minute on Saturday to salvage a 2-2 draw at home to Blackpool, it prompted wild scenes of celebration. It’s understandable to be happy when you score that late, especially having been 0-2 down, but would a single Rovers fan really have taken that scoreline at kick-off? In the cold light of day this was still a marginally better result for Ian Holloway’s side, although they will be gutted to let two points slip away in that fashion.

The comeback not withstanding, Blackburn are still in massive trouble. A cursory glance at the league table shows they are 13th with seven teams still below them; this seems to be enough for Coral to price them at only 11/5 for relegation - they believe there are as many as six teams more likely to go down at this point. I would contest this verdict strongly. With only three points separating the entire bottom eight, and one point keeping Blackburn above the dreaded dotted line, it really is too close to call.

Many of us foresaw problems at Ewood Park from the moment the new owners showed Sam Allardyce the door. An accomplished, experienced manager, he seemed to be doing as well as anyone could reasonably expect on a limited budget having hauled the side up the table to a position of relative comfort. They looked unlikely relegation candidates until they sacked Big Sam and appointed a man in Steve Kean who had no full managerial experience. After starting well, Kean was offered a new long term contract and confirmation that he had signed was made on January 20th. The club haven’t won since January 23rd. Not long after that they were 25/1 shots for relegation with bet365. A winless run of seven games, including five defeats has changed everything.

If form counts for anything then Wolves and West Ham are at least two sides who can claim to have the edge on Blackburn as we enter the run-in. With eight matches to play Kean will need to inspire at least a couple more victories to maintain top flight football. Away trips to Arsenal and Everton look daunting as do Ewood encounters with Man Utd and Man City. Further home games against Birmingham and Bolton will have to yield points but the final two away games are at West Ham and Wolves, the latter on the final day.  These fixtures are likely to be massive and incline me to think that Blackburn may not have quite enough to survive. As seventh favourites for the drop with most bookies, they still provide value. Back them at a best price of 11/5 with Coral.