Kean fighting on at Rovers

BLACKBURN boss Steve Kean vowed to continue fighting for his job even though his fate may already have been sealed.

Although tonight’s Premier League basement battle with rock-bottom Bolton at Ewood Park has been billed as do-or-die for Kean and opposite number Owen Coyle, the Scots do appear to be in contrasting positions.

Coyle is under pressure but it is not believed his job is under imminent threat.

Kean, on the other hand, appears to have reached the point of no return. Yet, for all his faults, Kean evidently is not lacking mental fortitude.

“I’d never back away,” he said. “When we win, I come up and answer questions. If we lose or draw it’s not something I would ever run away from.

“You have to face up to the responsibility. People deserve that respect. I won’t turn my back on it. I think we can get through it and when we do I will know how tough it has been and be determined not to go there again.”

Defeat tonight would surely bring the curtain down on the 44-year-old’s reign. Kean confirmed he did speak to Blackburn’s owners, Venky’s Blackburn yesterday, although the only guidance to his future was a positive one.

“The owners have given me their full backing and given us full backing in the transfer window.”

Adding to Kean’s woes is news Scott Dann is out for six weeks due to a groin injury ensuring Rovers will face Bolton with a patched up defence again likely to include Morten Gamst Pedersen.

As the games immediately after tonight are trips to Liverpool on St Stephen’s Day and Manchester United on New Year’s Eve, it seems like an impossible dream.

Bolton boss Coyle, meanwhile, is taking no notice of the unwritten rule which states the team bottom of the table at Christmas will almost certainly be relegated.

In the previous 19 years of the Premier League only one side — West Brom in 2004/5 — have managed to survive having been in last place come December 25.

“Facts and stats are whatever you want to make of them,” Coyle said. “My focus is only tomorrow night, looking to get those [three] points.

“The position we are in doesn’t lie and we have to get ourselves out of that and the only way we can do that is by winning games and moving up the league.

“The talking has to stop and we have to go and deliver on the pitch and we have players capable of winning the game.”

* Veteran Spanish defender Michel Salgado will be allowed to leave Blackburn when the transfer window opens next month.