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

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

Bristol City host Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Wednesday night, with both sides looking to get back into the playoffs and close in on top spot.

The Robins have won only one of their last four league games, whereas Rovers last suffered a league defeat in October against Swansea City.


Match preview

Adam Nagy celebrates scoring for Bristol City against QPR in the Championship on December 1, 2020© Reuters

Despite Bristol City struggling to find consistency and slipping to eighth in the table, the Robins are just four points off the top in what is shaping up to be a wide open Championship season.

After winning their first four league matches of the campaign, Bristol City have since won four, drawn three and lost five, including the disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Birmingham last weekend.

Saturday's defeat means that the Robins have picked up just one win in their last six Championship home games, scoring only three goals.

Head coach Dean Holden will be relying on top goalscorer Nahki Wells, who has scored four goals in his last six league starts against Blackburn Rovers across spells at Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers.

Victory on Wednesday night could move Bristol City back into the playoffs and one point behind table toppers Norwich City if they were to lose to Nottingham Forest.

Adam Armstrong celebrates scoring for Blackburn Rovers on September 19, 2020© Reuters

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was delighted with how his side performed with 10 men to earn a 2-2 draw away at Brentford on Saturday.

That result means that Rovers have accumulated 15 points from a possible 21 available and extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven matches.

Blackburn's good run of form has moved them up to ninth in the Championship, just six points behind top spot, and Mowbray is hoping that they can keep their momentum going.

One player who has starred for Rovers this season has been striker Adam Armstrong, who has netted 14 league goals, as has Brentford forward Ivan Toney, which is more than anyone else in the division.

Blackburn could move into the playoffs if they were to win their third successive league game against Bristol City on Wednesday night.

Bristol City Championship form: WWDLWL

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: WDWWWD


Team News

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

Bristol City boss Dean Holden could revert to a 3-5-2 formation this weekend instead of the 4-3-3 setup used in their last two matches.

Alfie Mawson (knee) and Andreas Weimann (cruciate ligament rupture) remain long-term absentees, while Nathan Baker, who has a hamstring injury, could return at the end of the month.

Midfielder Jamie Paterson, who has missed the previous two matches, remains a doubt so Chris Brunt could keep his place in the starting lineup alongside Adam Nagy and Callum O'Dowda.

Blackburn's Tony Mowbray is short of central defensive options after losing two of his centre-backs in the draw at Brentford on Saturday.

Scott Wharton was forced off on a stretcher with an Achilles tendon injury before Darragh Lenihan was shown a straight red card 10 minutes before half time.

With Derrick Williams and Joe Rankin-Costello also ruled out with injuries, Ryan Nyambe is likely to fill in alongside Daniel Ayala, while one of three left-footed players – Barry Douglas, Amari'i Bell or Stuart Downing – may have to start at right-back.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
Bentley; Vyner, Moore, Kalas; Hunt, Nagy, Brunt, O'Dowda, Dasilva; Wells, Martin

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Downing, Nyambe, Ayala, Bell; Rothwell, Johnson, Davenport; Gallagher, Armstrong, Elliott


SM words green background

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

None of Bristol City's last nine home league meetings with Blackburn has ended as a draw, with the Robins winning six and losing the other three, but with the visitors in good form, they should be strong enough to take at least a point away from Ashton Gate.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win 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.Away Win:data


ID:425582:cQx

Who will win Wednesday's Championship clash between Bristol City and Blackburn?

Bristol City
33.6%
Draw
34.5%
Blackburn Rovers
31.9%
229
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich1912432718940
2Bournemouth19107235161937
3Swansea CitySwansea199642112933
4Reading1910362923633
5Brentford1988328171132
6Watford188732213931
7Middlesbrough188642013730
8Stoke CityStoke198652420430
9Bristol City199372020030
10Cardiff CityCardiff198562618829
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn1984734231128
12Barnsley198472324-128
13Luton TownLuton197571721-426
14Huddersfield TownHuddersfield197482227-525
15Millwall195951617-124
16Preston North EndPreston1972102630-423
17Birmingham CityBirmingham195771619-322
18Coventry CityCoventry195772027-722
19Queens Park RangersQPR194781826-819
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham1944111827-916
21Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1944111324-1116
22Derby CountyDerby193791022-1216
23Wycombe WanderersWycombe1925121128-1711
24Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds1936101021-119

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