Dowie praise for Hughes

Iain Dowie can be forgiven for wondering what might have been when Blackburn visit Selhurst Park tomorrow.

If things had gone in his favour three months ago he might have been managing Rovers rather than Crystal Palace.

Dowie was on a shortlist of two with Mark Hughes to fill the vacancy left by Graeme Souness's departure for Newcastle.

He was pipped at the post by the former Wales manager but Dowie believes Rovers picked the right man. He said: "I sent Mark a good luck message when he got the job.

"It is terrific for him. He was there as a player not so long ago and he was the obvious candidate." However, the success Dowie has achieved with more limited resources at Palace suggest he may have turned Blackburn's finer facilities to better use.

Hughes has guided Blackburn to just two wins since taking charge in September and they go to Selhurst Park one place below Dowie's side towards the bottom of the Premiership.