Premier League: Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United - Peter White's big match preview

GARY Croft vowed today that Blackburn Rovers' under-fire squad would do everything in their power to try to keep relegation at bay against champions-elect Manchester United.

And there were no complaints from the defender about Rovers boss Brian Kidd's scathing attack on the players after Saturday's shock defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Croft, who pledged they would put pride back into their performance tonight, said he was not really shocked by the manager's outburst.

"Our performances have not been up to scratch and he has stood by us," he said.

"But, eventually, it does come back to the players, there's only so much a manager can do.

"I do believe every player puts in 100 per cent but maybe it isn't always directed the right way.

"It's about time this club got a kick up the backside and the gaffer has shown he's the man capable of doing it."

As for Kidd's remark about the "inmates" having run the club for too long, Croft said: "A lot of players have been here since the championship-winning side.

"Although it's a shame to lose a lot of core players perhaps there was a deep-seated feeling we were too good to get beaten by smaller teams, whereas before it was a matter of working hard.

"Basically, what he's saying is that we have to look at ourselves and the situation we are in, get some results and work hard for results rather than thinking it's going to be easy.

"He knows what's required and, if he didn't see it at Blackburn, it's his right to speak out. "I think the manager inherited a bad situation and he has done what he can to bring us out of it. It comes back to the players and, basically, we haven't done enough."

Croft pledged the team would be up for it against Manchester United tonight.

"We do have belief, we just have to pull it together," he said. "If we do go down we will go down fighting.

Kidd will have to check several players before naming his team but Kevin Gallacher (hamstring) and Jason McAteer (knee) seem to have little chance of playing.

Ashley Ward (back injury) will be an important addition if he is fit.

Others, such as Jason Wilcox, are also carrying knocks. But one of them, John Filan, trained without any apparent problems yesterday.

Rovers look like choosing from: Filan, Croft, Henchoz, Peacock, Davidson, Gillespie, Carsley, Wilcox, Duff, Jansen, Dunn, Davies, Johnson, Broomes, Ward, Flowers.

United will be without injured Roy Keane but may be able to restore Ryan Giggs to the squad after a six-match absence with ankle problems. Nicky Butt looks a likely replacement for Keane and Alex Ferguson has the luxury of choice up front with Andy Cole possibly in line for a recall.

They are expected to choose from: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, May, Irwin, Beckham, Butt, Scholes, Blomqvist, Yorke, Sheringham, Giggs, Cole, P Neville, Johnsen, Brown, Van Der Gouw.

Meanwhile, an "exclusive" report in last night's Lancashire Evening Post claimed that loan-man Dario Marcolin was returning to Italy.

Its only exclusivity, however, was that it came four days after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph had reported the facts last Friday! And several weeks after we had revealed Rovers were prepared to release Marcolin.

Rovers have provisionally arranged to play Manchester City at Maine Road next Monday (kick-off 7pm) in the final of the Academy under-17s play-off final. City won 2-1 at Newcastle to clinch their place.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.