Kean: No favours for Bolton

Steve Kean said his Blackburn Rovers side will not go easy on Bolton Wanderers when the two face on Saturday.

Despite an offer to postpone on the table from Blackburn, the Trotters were adamant that they wanted the match to go ahead as news regarding Fabrice Muamba grew in positivity throughout the week.

The Lancashire rivals are embroiled in a relegation battle, with Owen Coyle’s side two points from safety following wins for QPR and Saturday’s opponents in midweek.

Kean and his club hold a large amount of respect for the situation currently engulfing Bolton, but he has no intention of holding back come kick-off.

“We want to win the game. We’re not going to go there and think because Fabrice has had a bad time then we will feel embarrassed about winning,” he told reporters.

“We’ve done everything as a club to offer to postpone it but now we’re going to go out to try and score.

“We will be celebrating if we score but that doesn’t take away from how much we respect Bolton or we respect Fabrice. It’s two different issues.

“We’re delighted he is making progress. The game is in the spotlight and it’s for the right reasons.

“When a young man like that is struck down you’re thinking, ‘This person could die.’

“It’s been staggering the amount of support he’s had but that just shows the world of football gets together in tough times.

“Everyone will want to see the round of applause and support, then it’s just another game.

“Come 3pm we have to make sure we play the game and not the occasion.

All eyes will be on the emotional state of the home side, but Kean is keen to impress and boost his side’s chance of survival with three points.

“All we can do is be totally respectful to Fabrice and we have done. We need to get on with our business as it this a massive game and we don’t get the opportunity to play this fixture again,” Kean said.

“This is the one and only time we can go and get at it and try to get more points.

Kean believes his opposite number will also find it tough to concentrate on Saturday, but has hailed Coyle’s composure and dignity throughout the week.

“He’s a top fella and a good man that everyone has seen with his body language. He was very genuine with his concern and he was very emotional at certain stages.

“The fact he’s been there for Fabrice and his family and there’s been support from his players is a real show of the character he has got.

“But it must be tough for Owen to turn his attention to football. I’m sure all he’s felt is total relief that Fabrice is making progress.

“There might have been times that he felt it was going to go in a negative way and how was he going to speak with Fabrice’s family and that type of thing.

“Thank God it’s not gone that way and now he’ll probably try to refocus his players and get them back on it, which I think will be difficult.

“There’s also the added thing that they’ve had a very broken week, a lot of the players have been up and down to London to see Fabrice.

“I don’t know if their training week would be in line with a normal one because of the confusion and the emotional state the lads were in – I’m sure it’s been a very tough week for them as well.”