RIVAL bosses Gary Bowyer and Eddie Howe have lavished praise on each other ahead of tomorrow’s Championship clash between their sides at Ewood Park.

Blackburn Rovers manager Bowyer believes Bournemouth’s former Burnley boss Howe is doing a top job at Dean Court – and the feeling is mutual.

Howe said: “I think Gary has done a really good job in building the club up after some difficult times off the pitch.

“They look like they have got stability now, which is what they craved, and that has been reflected in results.

“Most of the talk with Blackburn was concerned with things off the pitch until recently, when they have managed to just talk about the football.

“I think we can relate to that as well with our recent history of financial problems, ownership talk and talk about who is running the club.

“A lot of our recent history has been about things off the pitch and now we have that stability and the club has moved forward a long way – and I think it will be the same for Blackburn.”

Bournemouth – the last team to win at Rovers in the league – are in their second season back in the Championship and Bowyer believes after their 10th-placed finish last time out, they should be considered promotion candidates.

He said: “I fancy Bournemouth and Middlesbrough to be the surprise packages of the season.

“Eddie’s done a fantastic job.”