Blackburn v Sunderland preview

Keane: Seeking revenge

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Blackburn 1 Sunderland 1
Sky Bet odds: Blackburn 11/10 Draw 9/4 Sunderland 11/4
One to Watch: Roque Santa Cruz
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Blackburn and Sunderland do battle for the second time in four days with both teams in poor form.

Blackburn won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday to make it through to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup but in the Premier League their results have been disappointing of late.

Paul Ince's men have not tasted victory in their last six matches and have slipped back to 15th in the table after a promising start to the campaign.

There were some encouraging signs in the 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea on Sunday and Ince will also have been pleased with the performance of his fringe players in the midweek cup win.

Ince is nevertheless likely to make a number of changes and bring players such as Roque Santa Cruz and Morten Gamst Pedersen back into his starting line-up.

Striker Benni McCarthy will miss out due to a family bereavement, while Keith Andrews remains doubtful with a knee problem.

Vince Grella will not return from a hamstring injury until next month, but Andre Ooijer (knee) is in contention after sitting out on Wednesday.

Jones in contention

Sunderland are just one place off the foot of the table following three successive defeats.

A disappointing loss to Stoke at the end of last month was followed by a 5-0 thumping at Chelsea, and Roy Keane's team were then beaten 2-1 by Portsmouth last weekend.

Keane, who sent out a strong side out against Blackburn on Wednesday, has shouldered the blame for the recent slump.

He will be desperate to gain revenge but still has doubts over the fitness of goalkeeper Craig Gordon (ankle) and full-back George McCartney (foot), while young forward Martyn Waghorn (ankle) is still missing.

Kenwyne Jones (knee) is in contention to play again after coming through unscathed in midweek, but El-Hadji Diouf will also hope to be given a chance up front.

Possible starting XIs

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Emerton, Warnock, Andrews, Pedersen, Villanueva, Santa Cruz.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Richardson, Whitehead, Reid, Malbranque, Jones, Cisse.