Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers both go into Sunday’s Premier League game at the Reebok Stadium knowing they could do with a victory to stay clear of the bottom three.
The Trotters currently sit just one point above the drop zone while Blackburn are just three points clear of third-from-bottom West Ham.
Bolton have lost their last three games in disappointing fashion, 5-1 against Aston Villa in their last outing, which came on the back of two successive 4-0 defeats to Chelsea.
At home this season they have struggled for form, with one win from a possible six at the Reebok so far.
Meanwhile, Blackburn have had problems on their travels. Ewood Park has became a fortress for the 1995 Premier League winners this season, but away from home they have lost all five of their games, conceding 18 goals in the process.
In addition, Rovers have been hit by the news that manager Allardyce will be missing for the next three games as he prepares to undergo heart surgery.
Bolton could welcome back Danny Shittu and Mustapha Riga, who were sidelined with hamstring injuries, for the clash with Blackburn Rovers.However, they will be without Tamir Cohen who is struggling with a groin injury although Jlloyd Samuel returns from suspension to boost manager Gary Megson's options.
Keith Andrews is Blackburn Rovers only real injury worry ahead of the short trip to face Bolton. The Republic of Ireland international played the full 120 minutes in his country's controversial defeat to France so manager sam Allardyce will check on his fitness levels.
Midfielder Vince Grella should be available for Rovers after recovering from a thigh injury.
REVIEW:
Blackburn Rovers ended a run of 10 successive defeats on the road in the Barclays Premier League as they earned a vital away win against local rivals Bolton Wanderers.
The Rovers hand coach Sam Allardyce a huge boost, as he prepares to undergo an operation on a coronary artery later this week, by securing a victory over his former club and bagging their first away point of the campaign.
David Dunn's 32nd minute goal, coupled with Samuel Ricketts' unfortunate own goal later in the 73rd minute, gave an unlikely win to the visitors.
Both sides struggled to create chances in an uninspiring first half and it took a rare moment of quality to break the deadlock.
Matt Taylor's free-kick was deflected onto the bar by Ryan Nelsen and Blackburn broke immediately, with David Dunn running the length of the field to support and hit a shot from Jason Roberts' lay-off that had just enough power to beat Jussi Jaaskelainen and fly in off the post.
Bolton should have drawn level just before the interval when Taylor's free kick was tipped over the bar and the same player failed to hit the target with a header from four yards from Gavin McCann's corner.
The hosts continued to create openings after the restart, with Ricardo Gardner passing up two chances and Kevin Davies and Taylor also missing the target.
Taylor had another drive pushed wide by Paul Robinson but soon Blackburn rested on a two-goal advantage in the most bizarre circumstances.
They extended their lead in the 73rd minute following an embarrassing mix-up between Ricketts and Jaaskelainen.
The full-back headed back a cross from Brett Emerton not realising his goalkeeper had already started walking out. And Bolton's relegation nightmare continues.