MATCH FACTS: BLACKBURN vs CARDIFF CITY

PUBLISHED

11:30 8th August 2014

by Oliver Roderick

• Blackburn have won five of their last seven league games.

• Cardiff have won four of their last six opening day games. Our league opener in 2012/13 was also a Friday night match, as Mark Hudson’s late goal earned maximum points against Huddersfield Town.

• Blackburn have not won any of their last three games on the opening day, drawing two and losing one.

• Rovers’ last defeat came way back in March; that was a 1-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth at Ewood Park.

• Cardiff won the last meeting at Ewood Park 4-1 in the Championship in December 2012 – that was their only win in the last five meetings there in all competitions.

• The Bluebirds did the double over Rovers in 2012/13 and have won the last three meetings in all competitions. Blackburn’s last win was 3-2 at Ewood Park in an FA Cup third round replay in January 2005.

• Blackburn were unbeaten in their final twelve games of last season in the Championship, winning six.

Cardiff City: LWDLLL

Last time out: Cardiff City 1-2 Chelsea – Sunday 11th May, Barclays Premier League

Cardiff City courageously bowed out of the Premier League by going down narrowly to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Craig Bellamy’s deflected shot had given the Bluebirds the lead on his final appearance, but second half strikes from Andre Schurrle and Fernando Torres earned the win for the Blues.

Cardiff City: Marshall, Caulker (capt), Turner, Whittingham, Campbell (James), Gunnarsson, Mutch, Daehli (Cowie), Fabio, Bellamy (Healey), John. Subs not used: Lewis, Eikrem, McNaughton, Berget.Blackburn Rovers:  WDDWWW

Last time out: Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Wigan Athletic – Saturday 3rd May, Sky Bet Championship
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson; Keane, Hanley (c), Kilgallon, Olsson; King (Feeney), Evans (Lowe), Cairney, Conway; Gestede, Rhodes. Subs not used: Eastwood, Dunn, Varney, Williamson, Taylor.
Cardiff City:  Marshall, Connolly, Taylor, Turner, Campbell (Mason), Kim, Gunnarsson, Mutch (Whittingham), Conway, Barnett, Bellamy (Gestede). Subs not used: Lewis, Lappin, Noone, Cowie.Blackburn Rovers: Kean (Sandomierski), Murphy (Rhodes), Kane, Best, Pedersen, Dann, Morris, Bentley (Dunn), Jones, Kazim-Richards, Hanley. Subs not used: Givet, Rekik, Stewart, Goodwillie.