Bury vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet League One.
The Energy Check Stadium at Gigg LaneAttendance7,159.
Friday 17 November 2017 12:15, UK
Managerless Bury will hope to bounce back from their embarrassing FA Cup exit against National League side Woking when they host Blackburn in League One.
Caretaker boss Ryan Lowe oversaw a 3-0 home defeat on Tuesday while the Shakers remain rock bottom of the table and could ring the changes following the cup disappointment. Bury striker Jermaine Beckford has missed the last four games after suffering a thigh problem in the 1-0 loss against Doncaster and remains a doubt.
Joe Murphy (knee) could be back in contention while Craig Jones (groin) and Stephen Dawson (knee) have been stepping up their recoveries.
Corry Evans is suspended for Blackburn after his unwanted starring role in Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying disappointment. Evans was penalised for a controversial handball in the first leg of Northern Ireland's play-off against Switzerland last week, and the penalty goal was all that separated the sides over 180 minutes.
David Raya is expected to return in goal after Jayson Leutwiler faced Barnet in the FA Cup last time out. Richie Smallwood and Dominic Samuel are available again after completing suspensions.
This will be the first league meeting between Bury and Blackburn Rovers since May 1980, when Bury secured a 2-1 away victory at Ewood Park. Before that match, the Shakers had lost 12 of their last 13 in all competitions against the Rovers (D1).
Including their 1-0 EFL Trophy victory this season, Bury have won back-to-back games against Blackburn in all competitions; they haven't beaten them in three consecutive games since January 1926 whilst both sides were in the top flight.
Bury have lost four of their last five league games, drawing the other. They've lost points in each of those five games thanks to goals conceded in the final 20 minutes.
Blackburn have failed to score in their last two away league games - they last failed to score in three in a row on the road in March 2016.
Only Bradford (10) have scored more headed goals in League One than Bury this season (8).
However, Blackburn are the only side in the division yet to concede a headed goal in 2017-18.
