Gary Bowyer issues rallying call to Blackburn Rovers fans to roar side to victory over Leeds United

Rovers are anticipating a crowd in excess of 21,000, by far their biggest of the campaign, after the Whites sold 6,800 tickets for the highly anticipated clash.

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Leeds, backed by the largest away following in the Championship so far this season, will take over the entire Bryan Douglas Darwen End.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer, therefore, is imploring the three other sides of the famous old ground to make themselves heard and drown out the invading White Rose army.

“These games are brilliant, ones I always look out for when the fixtures are released in the summer,” he said.

“Both home and away because they are two fantastic games in terms of the noise levels and the atmosphere created by both sets of fans.

“They’ll be bringing close to 7,000 and they’re going to be making a hell of a lot of noise.

“That means it is up to our supporters to give us the backing they gave us against Reading in our last home game.

“They were phenomenal that day and we’re going to need the same again because there are going to be times in the game when Leeds will have a spell and, rather than get frustrated, we’ll need them to back us.”

Bowyer knows exactly what it takes to beat the Whites after masterminding Rovers to a 2-1 win at Elland Road on New Year’s Day and a 1-0 victory in the reverse encounter on November 30 last year.

The Whites were cheered on by 6,700 fans that day and the club’s new head coach Neil Redfearn, who at the time was on the coaching staff, said: “It was a bit drab, a bit flat, and I suppose it was a missed opportunity with a crowd like that behind us but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m aware of the numbers going this weekend and the players are aware of it too.

“If I was them I’d be buzzing about it. Ask yourself this – how many times do you get to play in front of that sort of following? It’s special and pretty rare.”