After Nikola Kalinic twice struck the frame of the goal during Thursday’s Carling Cup defeat to Aston Villa, Sam Allardyce wondered what he had done to deserve such ill fortune. Since the club, which has not won at home in two months, has confirmed that the defender Lars Jacobsen will miss this game with a thigh strain, the Blackburn manager’s luck has not improved. However, Gaël Givet should have recovered from a head injury in time to face a side whose last league win came against Manchester United on December 19. Tim Rich

Venue Ewood Park Tickets £17-£29 (0871 222 1444) Last season Blackburn 1 Fulham 0 Referee K Friend

This season’s matches 7 Y20, R1, 3.00 cards per game

sportingbet odds Blackburn 6-5 Fulham 2-1 Draw 11-5

Blackburn

Subs from McCarthy, Reid, Salgado, Hoilett, Olsson, Brown, Di Santo, Jones

Doubtful Givet (head)

Injured Grella (thigh, 20 Jan), Roberts (knee, 20 Jan), Jacobsen (thigh, unknown)

Suspended Diouf (last of three)

Form guide LDDLLD

Disciplinary record Y32 R1

Leading scorer Dunn 5

Fulham

Subs from Zuberbühler, Smalling, Teymourian, Riise, Davies, Seol, Elm, Greening, Gera, Dikgacoi, E Johnson

Doubtful Kamara (knee), Hangeland (knee) Injured Zamora (collarbone, Mar), Paintsil (knee, Apr) Suspended None International duty Etuhu

Form guide LLDWDW Disciplinary record Y23 R1

Leading scorer Zamora, Dempsey, Duff 6

Match pointers

• Only Aston Villa and Manchester United have conceded fewer goals from set pieces than Blackburn (7), but no side has conceded as many from open play (32)

• Fulham have not lost by more than one goal in 17 games

• Blackburn have not won any of the nine league games in which David Dunn has not featured this season

• Fulham are the only team in the Premier League not to concede a penalty this season

• Blackburn have been caught offside the most times (68) in the top flight this term

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