Kean urges Rovers to go for it
Rovers are looking to follow up their impressive victory over Arsenal in their last home Premier League match with a similar display against City. Blackburn picked up their first - and so far only - league win of the season in their previous outing at Ewood Park after twice battling back from deficits to defeat Arsenal 4-3. Now Kean hopes his side can replicate that showing against high-flying City on Saturday and get their campaign back on track following last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Newcastle. "A result would be great for our season," Kean said on his club's website. "Last time we were at Ewood we had a fantastic result, so we have to go out there again and be positive and be quite aggressive without the ball." However, while Kean wants his side to take the game to City, he admits they need to improve on the defensive side of their game - with the whole team needing to play their parts. "We've certainly scored goals in the last few weeks, what we need to do now is be more solid when we lose possession," he said. "We'd like to keep playing fast-flowing football and creating chances but we need to keep a focus on the change over of possession and not being too open. "I'm a believer, and we've hammered this to the players all week, that everybody is a defender when you lose the ball. "We attack as a team so I think it is only right that we defend as a team." Blackburn's defeat to Newcastle left them stuck in the bottom three heading into this weekend's fixtures on four points. At the other end of the table City make the short trip to Ewood Park lying level with pacesetters Manchester United on 16 points. Nevertheless, Blackburn captain Chris Samba believes his side can give Roberto Mancini's star-studded side a run for their money, with the 27-year-old drawing optimism from Blackburn's performances against the division's big guns in recent times. Aside from their win over Arsenal earlier this month, Rovers took points off the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool last term. Blackburn also pushed City hard in last season's corresponding fixture before going down to a solitary Edin Dzeko goal 15 minutes from time in April. Samba also said on his club's website: "Strangely we have been playing better against the bigger teams so they'll know it won't be an easy game. "At Ewood Park last time it was not an easy game for them, we had a few chances before unfortunately losing the game at the end. "I think they are stronger, but whoever we play at home, be it Arsenal, City, Chelsea or United, we have to go out there and play for pride and play for the fans." He added: "It is our home game and we want to rectify all the bad things from the game against Newcastle." Kean is waiting on the fitness of defenders Scott Dann and Michel Salgado ahead of the game. Neither player has trained this week and the pair will undergo late tests to determine whether they will be able to face City, with Kean admitting the duo were "touch and go" for the clash. Martin Olsson is definitely out through suspension following his red card at Newcastle but Gael Givet has recovered from the knock he sustained at St James' Park and should be available. Meanwhile, Kean has also confirmed that Ryan Nelson and David Dunn are edging closer to a return.