MATCH PREVIEW: CARDIFF CITY vs BLACKBURN ROVERS
Match Previews
16th August
Date: Wednesday, 17th August. 7:45pm K.O.
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Tickets: www.eticketing.co.uk/cardiffcity/
Cardiff City welcome Blackburn Rovers to South Wales as Paul Trollope's men play their first evening League match under the Cardiff City Stadium lights.
THE OPPOSITION
Blackburn Rovers, led by new manager Owen Coyle, arrive in the Welsh capital bottom of the Championship table having lost both of their games so far by three goals.
They opened their campaign against Norwich City who blew them away at Ewood Park to record a 4-1 win. The Canaries, relegated from the Premier League last season, scored three goals in the first half and added another in the second period. Blackburn did manage to grab a consolation goal through new man, Anthony Stokes - who has been in good scoring form - but it was too little, too late.
Things didn’t improve for Rovers on Saturday where they lost 3-0 to newly-promoted Wigan Athletic, meaning they travel to Cardiff looking for their first points of the season.
CLUB CONNECTIONS
Winger Craig Conway is entering his fourth season with the Ewood Park side having moved there from Cardiff City after the Bluebirds’ 2012/13 promotion winning campaign. Conway will always be remembered fondly by the Cardiff faithful as the scorer of the goal away to Burnley that clinched the Championship title.
Other players to have represented both sides include Rudy Gestede, Craig Bellamy, Jay Bothroyd and Gary Croft.
MEMORABLE MEETING
Cardiff City 2-0 Blackburn Rovers
League Cup Quarter Final, 2011
The Bluebirds reached the League Cup Semi Final courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Premier League Blackburn Rovers at Cardiff City Stadium.
It was to be an emotional evening at CCS following the death of Wales manager Gary Speed just two days before.
After tributes to Speed had been paid prior to kick-off, City took the lead on nineteen minutes, as Aron Gunnarsson played the ball through to Kenny Miller and the Scotland international slotted under Mark Bunn.
A sensational run from Miller then almost led to the Bluebirds doubling their lead. However, after he had beaten both Grant Hanley and Bunn, Scott Dan blocked his goal-bound effort.
Blackburn struggled to build up any meaningful pressure on the City goal in the match. Shortly after the interval, they were punished, as Peter Whittingham's corner was eventually bundled in by midfielder Filip Kiss.
The 2-0 victory continued an eight-game unbeaten run for the Bluebirds and booked City's place in the Semi Final as they continued their march to Wembley.
ROVERS FACTS
- Blackburn were established in 1875 and became a founding member of The Football League in 1888.
- Rovers hold the record for the longest undefeated FA Cup run, going 24 games unbeaten between 1884-86 (which included three FA Cup wins).
- The all time record goal scorer for the club was Simon Garner, who bagged 194 goals between 1978 and 1992.
- Jordan Rhodes top scored for Rovers in the Championship last season with ten goals, prior to his deadline day move to Middlesbrough on 1 February.
DON'T MISS A MOMENT!
LISTEN: Supporters can listen in live on Cardiff City Player HD* for all the action from City v Blackburn.
WATCH: Extended highlights of the match will be available to subscribers of Cardiff City Player HD*
SOCIAL: Live updates from CCS will come via our official Twitter account, @CardiffCityFC.
*Search ‘Cardiff City’ on the App Store and Google Play Store to view Cardiff City Player HD on Smart Phones, with content available to subscribers 24/7.
Watch highlights of another memorable clash with Blackburn Rovers below...
