DEC 20: BLACKBURN v BOLTON PREVIEW

Ewood Park, Tuesday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports 1

THERE have been some massive games in England so far but probably none bigger than Tuesday's Blackburn v Bolton relegation scrap.

OK, it doesn't match the likes Man Utd v Man City or Chelsea v Arsenal for glitz and glamour but there will be a huge prize for the victor at the end of 90 minutes. Either Steve Kean or Owen Coyle will get to keep their job.

The losing boss will see his side spend Christmas at the foot of the Premier League and that will also be Bolton's fate if they draw.

Kean knows he'll be axed if Rovers don't win and while Coyle has been told his job is safe for now a defeat at their local and equally struggling rivals could push his chairman over the edge.

So let battle commence. The game won't match the quality of Sunday's Man City v Arsenal sizzler but it should be just as dramatic and produce more goals.

Blackburn haven't kept a clean sheet all season so Bolton, despite netting just 10 times on their travels, will hope to find the net.

Rovers have banged in 23 goals, more than anyone outside the top five and Norwich, so scoring hasn't been a major difficulty. Look at both teams to net at 4-6 with Skybet. Over 2.5 goals pays
4-5 at Stan James and over 3.5 is 19-10 with sportingbet.

I would have fancied Rovers strongly if they hadn't lost at home to West Brom at the weekend, following on from their fatal late collapse to Sunderland the previous Sunday.

Three weeks ago they smashed Swansea 4-1 with Yakubu hitting all four and a recovery looked possible but since then they've reverted to type.

Yakubu's a natural scorer but hasn't had a sniff since then. Still he's the most likeliest Blackburn deadlock breaker at 11-2 with Blue Square.

Bolton's top scorer Ivan Klasnic is at 7-1 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power while impressive midfielder Chris Eagles is one to consider as anytime scorer. He is 4-1 with Coral.

It's difficult to pick a winner and it could well be a draw. However, that result suits no one so I'll side with Blackburn simply because the players seem to want Kean to stay so must win to make that happen.

They have won three of their last four at home to Bolton and their last clean sheet was against Coyle's men back in April.

Rovers are a biggest 6-5 with William Hill while Bolton are 11-4 at Paddy Power and Chandler.

It's bound to be fiery and there could be a red in the match. Any sending-off pays 5-2 at Chandler and William Hill.

Coyle will probably survive until the window opens when he will need to buy a striker. Last season he got the club out a whole by snapping up Daniel Sturridge on loan from Chelsea.

After the way he helped develop the youngster into an England regular and Blues' first pick maybe Andre Villas-Boas will give him a shot of Fernando Torres.

And if he managed to steer Torres back on track the former Clydebank striker would have a job for life – as Chelsea's forwards coach!.

Blackburn v Bolton predictions

Correct score: 3-2

(25-1, Betfred, Skybet)

First score: Yakubu

(11-2, Blue Square)

Anytime scorer: Eagles

(4-1, Coral)

Over 3.5 goals

(19-10, sportingbet)

Red card

(5-2, William Hill, Chandler)

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