Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean '100% shocked' if he was sacked

Video caption, Kean 'understands' Blackburn fans' frustration
  • Author, Phil McNulty
  • Role, Chief football writer at Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean insists he will be "100% shocked" if he is sacked - despite facing a furious reaction from fans during and after the home defeat to Bolton Wanderers.

Kean suffered sustained abuse during the 2-1 loss that left Blackburn bottom of the Premier League and hundreds of supporters continued the protests outside the stadium after the final whistle.

Banners were unfurled during the game demanding the removal of Kean and also Blackburn's Indian owners Venky's, but the Scot was again defiant in the face of the barrage of disapproval.

He dismissed suggestions a board meeting will take place on Wednesday to discuss his future and remains confident he can engineer a revival from his struggling Rovers squad.

Kean is convinced he will still be in charge for the Boxing Day visit to Liverpool, saying: "I would be 100% shocked if I was sacked. I still expect to be in charge for our next game."

Blackburn fans called for the return of former manager Mark Hughes as Kean was subjected to constant chanting and heavy personal animosity, but is convinced he can turn the supporters around.

"I hope I can still win the fans over and I can only do that by winning games," said Kean, who declared his family have not been affected by the vociferous criticism aimed in his direction, which reached a crescendo at the final whistle.

He continued: "My wife was here tonight. This is our job, when you win people say it is amazing and when you lose people are unhappy. That is part and parcel of the job.

"We will grind our way through it and I will go through it because if all my defenders were available I could put a back unit together and keep clean sheets."

Bolton boss Owen Coyle mounted a defence for Kean as he claimed Blackburn's fans have never given him an opportunity to win them over since he succeeded sacked Sam Allardyce 12 months ago.

"I don't think they have given Steve Kean a chance from the outset when he was appointed in my opinion," said Coyle. "They will have their own reasons and the people that want to be heard will shout the loudest."