All change for Ewood derby duel (From The Bolton News)

All change for Ewood derby duel

2:29pm Sunday 24th February 2008 in

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GARY Megson made five changes to the team that secured a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup as Wanderers returned to their Premiership survival battle at Blackburn.

Out went Nicky Hunt, Jlloyd Samuel, Stelios, Gavin McCann and Joey O'Brien, who all made big contributions to the scoreless draw at Atletico Madrid.

In came Gretar Steinsson, Ricardo Gardner, Ivan Campo, Danny Guthrie and El-Hadji Diouf to make up what is generally regarded as Megson's strongest possible first 11.

Young O'Brien was given a place on the subs' bench alongside January signings Tamir Cohen and Grzegorz Rasiak, who were ineligible for the European game, and Abdoulaye Meite, who has been unable to regain his place as a back four regular since returning from African Nations Cup duty.

Blackburn, who were looking for a double after winning 2-1 at the Reebok last month, were without injured defenders Andre Ooijer and Ryan Nelson but David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen were back after serving suspensions.

Rovers: Friedel; Warnock, Samba, Khizanishvili, Emerton; Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Gamst Pedersen; McCarthy, Santa Cruz. Subs: Tugay, Mokoena, Derbyshire, Roberts, Brown.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Gardner; Campo; Diouf, Nolan, Guthrie, Taylor; Davies. Subs: Meite, Joey O'Brien, Cohen, Rasiak, Al-Habsi.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)