Match Preview | Blackburn Rovers vs. Cardiff City
Cardiff City travel to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on New Year’s Day, 12pm KO.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Blackburn Rovers’ manager is former Denmark international Jon Dahl Tomasson, who took on the role at Ewood Park in June this year, signing a three-year contract.
During his playing days, Tomasson represented some huge clubs in Europe, including Newcastle United, Feyenoord, AC Milan and Villarreal.
The striker also had fantastic career at international level, netting a remarkable tally of 52 goals in 112 appearances for the Danish national team.
Since his retirement, Tomasson has managed in the Netherlands with Excelsior and Roda JC, before a successful spell in Sweden with Malmö FF, winning the Allsvenskan on two occasions.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
Rovers’ most dangerous player is striker Ben Brereton Díaz, who joined the club from Nottingham Forest in 2019.
Since then, the attacker has recorded 40 league goals in 120 appearances, whilst also earning 17 caps for the Chilean National Team.
The best campaign in Brereton Díaz’s career so far came last year, netting 22 goals in 37 Championship appearances.
Díaz has continued his form this season, finding the net on ten occasions, averaging a goal every 221 minutes.
CLUB CONNECTION | RUDY GESTEDE
A recent player to represent both clubs is striker Rudy Gestede, who signed for the Bluebirds in July 2011 and made a positive start, providing an assist for fellow debutant Kenny Miller in an opening day victory at West Ham United.
Gestede went on to represent City in the 2012 League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium, as well as being part of the side that won the Championship title in the following season.
The striker made the switch to Blackburn Rovers initially on loan in 2013, before making the move permanent. His time at Ewood Park was prolific, netting 32 league goals in 60 appearances, subsequently earning a move to Premier League club Aston Villa.
FIRST AND LAST | BLUEBIRDS AND ROVERS
The first ever meeting between Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers was a Division One clash back in January 1922.
Prolific City scorer Len Davies shone for the Bluebirds that day, netting a fine brace, with Billy Grimshaw also on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory.
Under the management of Fred Stewart, City finished fourth in the Division One table at the end of the campaign, having earned promotion in the previous season to become the first Welsh team to reach the top tier of English football.
Our most recent fixture against Rovers was in this season’s reverse fixture at Cardiff City Stadium, in which the Bluebirds put in a great performance.
Mark Harris gave City a deserved lead with a fantastic strike, before Ryan Allsop stepped up with a vital penalty save in added time to secure the three points.
