Exactly one year and one week ago to the day, Blackburn Rovers lost 2-1 to their Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers. The result left the then Rovers manager, Sam Allardyce without a job following a run of no wins in five games. They were sitting in the relative mid-table comfort of 13th in the Premier League.
The move came as new Indian owners looked to provide the one time Premier League champions with “Champions League football”, attracting the footballing elite to Ewood Park. Music to every Rovers fans ears. Unfortunately for them, the Venky’s group were all bark and no bite.
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| Steve Kean |
Allardyce was sacked and the man that would inspire the revolutionary period and lead the blue and white of Blackburn Rovers back competing for the biggest honours in club football was . . . the ever uninspiring Steve Kean.
The Scot was Allardyce’s first team coach and given he had no managerial experience it was a shock appointment to say the least. Allardyce’s likeability as both a man and manager left Kean with an unwanted “Judas” tag before his tenure got going. He did however guide Rovers to safety with a 3-2 win over fellow survivors Wolverhampton Wanderers to end the season.
Rover’s poor start to the new season saw fans voicing their opinions in quite vociferous fashion. More banners than a public sector march imploded upon Ewood Park, all calling for Steve Kean’s departure. Supporters then agreed to abstain from any demonstrations for two crunch home games in order to put the focus back on results on the pitch.
The first of the two fixtures saw West Brom steal three points with two stunning strikes by James Morrison and Peter Odemwingie. And like a boss watching your every move from over your shoulder, Blackburn’s boo boys gave Kean a little verbal reminder as the ref called time. All eyes then turned to last night’s relegation clash with Bolton Wanderers. Billed as the “who loses goes” game, both Owen Coyle and Steve Kean were men under immense pressure heading into the tie.
There was a nervous tense feel to the opening exchanges but before you could say “Morten Gamst Pedersen”, Rovers were two goals behind. Poor defending allowed Mark Davies to slide a shot past Paul Robinson after just five minutes, before Nigel Reo Cooker doubled Wanderers lead on the half hour mark.
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| Fans voice their anger |
The air turned blue and there was a fierce and sinister mood coming from the home support. Rover’s fans had clearly seen enough and as if prepared by Art Attacks very own Neil Buchanan, the banners reappeared.
Rovers will be bottom at Christmas. In the last seven seasons, only once has the club at the foot of the table at Christmas, escaped the dreaded drop. Kean’s back four has been depleted with injury; his lack of depth may prove to be his proverbial bullet proof vest. Whilst Kean has the credible reason to add to the squad, the owners may prolong his stay at the club.
The club's Latin motto is "Arte et labore" - "By Skill & Hard Work”. It may take a little more than that to save their manager as one thing’s for sure; Rovers fans were never Kean from the beginning.
Dale Moon
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