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Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Norwich City will be aiming to preserve their lead at the top of the Championship when they travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

The Canaries went three points clear at the summit after beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Wednesday, while Rovers are in 10th position.


Match preview

Norwich City's Emiliano Buendia celebrates scoring against Nottingham Forest in the Championship on December 9, 2020© Reuters

Norwich continue to struggle with injuries but remain the pace setters in the Championship as they grind out results and are hard to beat.

Emiliano Buendia's deflected strike proved to be the winner against Forest in midweek, after Anthony Knockaert had earlier cancelled out Jacob Sorensen's opener.

The Canaries have now just lost once in their last 13 matches, and travel to Ewood Park with the joint-best away record in the division, having picked up 16 points from a possible 24 available on the road.

One thing that Daniel Farke will be keen to achieve on Saturday is a clean sheet, as his team have conceded in each of their last five games.

That won't be easy against the league's top scorers Blackburn, but Tony Mowbray's side were shut out on Wednesday when they lost 1-0 to Bristol City.

Tyrhys Dolan celebrates scoring for Blackburn against Preston in the Championship on November 24, 2020© Reuters

It was a game full of chances at Ashton Gate, as Rovers had 59% possession and 22 shots, but could not find a way past Daniel Bentley before Famara Diedhiou popped up with a late winner.

The result brought to an end a seven-match unbeaten run for Blackburn, and leaves them five points behind the playoff positions.

They have won their previous three games on home turf, but like Norwich, have struggled to keep the ball out of their own net of late – keeping just two clean sheets in their last 10 matches.

Blackburn have not beaten the Canaries in their last six attempts, last emerging victorious in a Premier League meeting between the two sides in April 2012.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: DWWWDL

Norwich City Championship form: WWDLWW


Team News

Norwich City boss Daniel Farke on February 1, 2020© Reuters

Darragh Lenihan is available for selection again for Blackburn after being suspended for the midweek trip to Bristol City.

The Irishman is expected to replace Derrick Williams, who returned from a month out with injury in midweek so is lacking match sharpness.

Norwich's injury troubles are beginning to ease, and Todd Cantwell and Kenny McLean made their return from the sidelines as substitutes on Wednesday evening.

Jordan Hugill and Kieran Dowell were also named on the bench against Forest so could feature at Ewood Park, but it is still too soon for Tim Krul and Lukas Rupp.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, Douglas; Johnson, Holtby, Rothwell; Gallagher, Armstrong, Elliott

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
McGovern; Aarons, Hanley, Zimmermann, Sorensen; Tettey, Skipp; Buendia, Cantwell, Martin; Pukki


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Norwich City

Blackburn have lost to all of the other current top six sides so far this season, and Norwich could complete the set as they continue to get stronger by welcoming players back from injury. Expect goals, with both teams leaky defensively but exciting going forward.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:425894:cQx

How you voted: Blackburn vs Norwich

Blackburn Rovers
20.0%
Draw
18.2%
Norwich City
61.8%
55
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Bristol City manager Dean Holden pictured in October 2020
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich20134329181143
2Bournemouth20108235161938
3Swansea CitySwansea20106423121136
4Brentford2098331181335
5Middlesbrough1996424141033
6Stoke CityStoke209652520533
7Reading2010373026433
8Watford198742215731
9Bristol City209382021-130
10Cardiff CityCardiff208572620629
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn2084834241028
12Huddersfield TownHuddersfield208482427-328
13Barnsley208482326-328
14Luton TownLuton207671721-427
15Preston North EndPreston2082102730-326
16Millwall2051051718-125
17Birmingham CityBirmingham205781723-622
18Coventry CityCoventry205782028-822
19Queens Park RangersQPR204881927-820
20Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2045111425-1117
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham1944111827-916
22Derby CountyDerby193791022-1216
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2046101121-1012
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2026121229-1712

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