There’s a chill wind blowing through East Lancashire tonight. Blackburn Rovers are facing local rivals Bolton at Ewood Park and there’s a lot at stake. The teams occupy the two basement positions in the Premier League. Three points, for either would be a massive boost immediately prior to the Christmas programme. Sitting at home in Cumbria listening to the commentary on Radio Five I can’t help but feel a huge slab of smugness. Like many other Burnley supporters I was very disappointed by Owen Coyle’s decision to leave the club he had guided to Premiership status, halfway through our first season. It just didn’t make sense. His reasons were purely self-motivated. A bigger transfer budget and wage ceiling. Better training facilities, possibly and, lets not forget; more money. whatever his logic – he decided to go to Bolton, and live with the label of “Judas” that inevitably accompanied him. So that’s Bolton. As far as Blackburn go – the late Jack Walker bought them the Premiership title and became the first football sugar daddy. Meanwhile, we paupers at Burnley had to make do with bargain basement football in the lower reaches of the football league. Blackburn qualified for Europe, were humiliated by Swedish part-timers Trelleborgs, and we all celebrated. Since then our meetings have been far and few between, but always resulting in victory for Blackburn.
Its 2-0 to Bolton now and its odds on a victory for them. In some ways I don’t want either side to win – but looking on the bright side – it looks like one of them is going to lose.
by the fellside 