Rival Premier League bosses defiant amid sack talk

Blackburn Rovers' Steve Kean and Bolton's Owen Coyle were in positive mood ahead of a Premier League clash that could see the losing Scottish manager sacked. Bolton are currently bottom of the table, with Blackburn just a point above them heading into Tuesday's Lancashire derby at Rovers' Ewood Park ground. Yet it is Kean, long the target of Blackburn fans' anger since his appointment a year ago, who appears in most danger of imminent dismissal with the local paper devoting a front-page editorial Monday calling for his removal. But Kean, who curiously brought his young son with him to Monday's pre-match press conference, again insisted he would not throw in the towel, having been backed thus far by Venky's, the Indian-based poultry from that owns Rovers. "I won't turn my back on it though," he said. "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." A "pact" made by some Rovers fans to spare Kean fresh verbal abuse evaporated when West Brom's Peter Odemwingie scored an 89th minute winner in the Baggies' 2-1 victory at Ewood Park on Saturday and a loss to Bolton would merely increase the pressure on Kean. However, despite his critics, Kean believed he would still be in charge of Rovers come the January transfer window. "The owners are concerned with where we are, as everyone is," said Kean. "But they have given me their full backing and given us full backing in the transfer window. "We have been speaking about new players that we hope to bring in because it is important that we are active now so as soon as the window opens, we get some players in." Blackburn suffered a fresh blow Monday when it was confirmed Scott Dann would be out for six weeks with a groin injury suffered during the West Brom match. Dann has now joined list of sidelined Rovers defenders including Gael Givet, Ryan Nelsen and Michel Salgado. "I know what my back four will be but it will not be people who have too many games under their belts because we don't have them available," said Kean of the prospect of fielding a makeshift back four against Bolton. As for the criticism that has come his way, Kean said: "The pressure is part of my job...You have to face it and accept it. "We understand the magnitude of this game. It is a six-pointer." Meanwhile Coyle, backed publicly by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, dismissed talk of the losers of Tuesday's match sacking their manager. "It is news to me but that is the nature of football," said Coyle. "Everyone has an opinion and loves a negative story. "It doesn't faze me. Whatever ultimately happens to you in life will happen."