Blackburn Rovers (H)

Mark Hughes will come up against one of his old sides for the second consecutive week on Saturday afternoon, when the Cottagers play host to Steve Kean's Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.

Caught between the kick and run football of Sam Allardyce and the more elegant play of Kean, Rovers will bring a unique test for Mark Hughes and his men. Hughes will take heart, however, in that Steve Kean brings his men to South West London off the back of an abysmal 4-1 defeat at Villa Park last week. It is likely to be a tight game but home advantage will be crucial for Fulham, as well as a host of injuries to some of Blackburn's key players.

Another man that faces his old club will be Steve Kean himself. The ex-Scottish winger played the role of assistant manager at the Cottage between 2003 and 2007, which saw him fall under the tutorship of Chris Coleman. He's sure to get a warm welcome from the Fulham faithful. 

Blackburn, as mentioned, come into this tie with an inconsistent, if not shameful, form book. They haven't won since January and have conceded 8 goals in their last three games.

Following the respectable and understated draw at The City of Manchester Stadium last Sunday, Fulham still haven't won since their 1-0 victory over Newcastle United on 2nd February.

In September, Fulham visited Ewood Park and picked up a valuable point; Dempsey scoring the only goal in a 1-1 draw. Over the years, the Whites haven't fared too well against Rovers in London, disregarding a 3-0 win in November 2009. In the previous season, we succumbed to a 2-1 defeat and the year before that saw us held to a 2-2 draw by a late Warnock goal.

Bobby Zamora is well in contention to start for the first time since that fateful day against Wolves, and it's thought likely that he will get a place in the first eleven. Steve Sidwell is still out, but his recovery is on track. Fulham fans will still await a glimpse of Phillipe Senderos, after feeling a tightness in his hamstring.

David Dunn will miss out for Blackburn Rovers, but he is only one of many that make up their injury list. Jones, Formica, Hoilett and our Summer/January target Santa Cruz are all doubtful.

Score Prediction: Fulham 1 - 0 Blackburn

Predicted Line-Up: Schwarzer; Baird. Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido; Duff, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey; Zamora, Dembele.