Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers - Peter White's match preview

THERE could be a new vacancy cropping up at Ewood Park and, already, there are two candidates clamouring to fill it.

It all boils down to Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness's continuing experiments with his team formations -- especially using three central defenders.

For that allows him to play one of his more creative attacking talents in 'the hole' just behind the two front strikers.

And both Matt Jansen and David Dunn seem perfectly equipped to fill the gap.

It was Jansen who got first go against newly-crowned First Division champions Charlton Athletic on Monday.

And no doubt he would like nothing better than to get the nod for tomorrow's game against Crystal Palace when he has the opportunity to return and face his former club following a £4 million transfer to Ewood that has yet to pay full dividends.

Jansen has often been seen has the kind of player capable of filling that 'floating' role behind the orthodox attackers, with the skills and spectacular shooting powers to make it count.

A deeper examination of the squad would probably also throw up the name of Damien Duff -- though while he continues to create havoc for the opposition down Rovers' left flank it is perhaps better to leave well alone.

But Dunn undoubtedly entered the equation on Easter Monday afternoon and with something of a vengeance.

During the time he has risen through the junior ranks, those who have monitored his progress have always felt a role as a deep-lying striker, or advanced attacking midfielder, was best suited to the lad from Great Harwood. And that could be spot on. For, as soon as he switched to that position on Monday, he not only looked comfortably at home but also won the penalty that gave Rovers an equaliser and went close to nicking all three points.

To be frank, Dunn does not really mind where Souness sees him in the team, so long as there is a shirt for him.

But he explained: "I have played there a few times for the youth team.

"I like taking people on and getting at them and it's the ideal position to do that.

"I felt I was a bit lucky the way it (the penalty situation) fell for me.

"But I just took the ball, saw the defender coming in and I knew if I got a touch on it I was either round him or he was going to foul me."

The latter proved to be the case and Lee Carsley duly levelled from the penalty spot.

It has been against the likes of Crystal Palace that Rovers have failed to shine and, as this season draws to close, Dunn knows there will not be any room for excuses next year.

"We have a massive squad with everyone capable of playing everywhere," he said. "But we have to get our heads down and get back into the Premier League.

"It's going to be a really big season for us. We had a bad start this time and I think we have done well to get as high as we have done, because everyone was low and confidence."

A good finish would not harm next season's hopes and, whatever the formation, Dunn is in the kind of form and mood to earn a place in it somewhere.