MX23RW : Friday, March 13 11:05:18| >> :60:3588:3588:
Feb 26, 2020 at 7.45pm UK at ​Ewood Park
Attendance: 12,343
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers
0-0
StokeStoke City
FT

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

Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Playoff-chasing Blackburn Rovers face a visit from relegation-threatened Stoke City at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

Blackburn find themselves eighth in the Championship table, just five points adrift of the top six, while Stoke are down in 19th, only three points clear of the drop.


Match preview

Blackburn Rovers' Adam Armstrong celebrates scoring their first goal on December 7, 2019© Reuters

Blackburn are on a strong run of form, winning four and losing just one of their last eight Championship games and going unbeaten in their last three.

Tony Mowbray's side endured a difficult start to the campaign, winning just four of their first 14 league outings between August and October.

However, they have lost just four of their subsequent 20 Championship fixtures, winning 10 and surging up the table to within touching distance of the playoffs.

Blackburn will hope that a contest against a patchy Stoke side - who they already beat 2-1 away from home in the reverse fixture earlier this season - can be a good opportunity to extend their unbeaten run.

Stoke suffered from a nightmare start to the season, going 10 league games without a win at the start of the campaign and finding themselves mired at the bottom of the table.

However, they have improved since, picking up just enough points to lift themselves out of the relegation zone, but they are far from safe.

The turn of the year saw the Potters go four games unbeaten, but three losses from their subsequent five outings mean that Michael O'Neill's side are just three points ahead of 22nd-placed Wigan Athletic.

A 2-0 home win over Cardiff City in their last outing handed them that cushion, courtesy of a Callum Paterson own-goal and a Joe Allen strike, something the Potters will hope to build on.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: WDLWWD

Stoke City Championship form: WLWLLW


Team News

Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill on February 15, 2020© Reuters

Blackburn boss Mowbray has a hefty injury list to deal with ahead of the Potters' visit to Ewood Park.

Derrick Williams, Joe Rankin-Costello, Joe Rothwell, Bradley Lyons and Corry Evans are all still unavailable for the contest as they recover from their respective problems.

Meanwhile, Lewis Holtby, Bradley Dack and Joe Grayson are all out for the rest of the season with serious injuries.

On the other hand, Stoke manager O'Neill has a significantly shorter list of unavailable players to contend with.

James McClean and Stephen Ward are both sidelined, while Thibaud Verlinden will not play again this season.

Club captain Ryan Shawcross is closing in on a return from his lengthy absence but is not ready yet.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Walton; Buckley, Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bell; Travis, Downing, Johnson; Samuel, Armstrong

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Butland; Smith, Batth, Chester, Martins Indi; Thompson; Ince, Allen, Clucas, Powell; Campbell


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Stoke City

Blackburn are in fine form, are at home and should have too much for a Stoke side that struggle on the road, even with their present injury crisis.


ID:390741:

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

Blackburn Rovers
Draw
Stoke City
Blackburn Rovers
70.8%
Draw
10.4%
Stoke City
18.8%
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Blackburn Rovers' Adam Armstrong celebrates scoring their first goal on December 7, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds37218856302671
2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371913564372770
3Fulham371810952381464
4Brentford371791164333160
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest371612948381060
6Preston North EndPreston37168135045556
7Bristol City371510125153-255
8Millwall37131594440454
9Cardiff CityCardiff37131595250254
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn371411125245753
11Swansea CitySwansea371314104645153
12Derby CountyDerby371312124949051
13Queens Park RangersQPR37148155862-450
14Reading37139154642448
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds37139154649-348
16Birmingham CityBirmingham371211144857-947
17Stoke CityStoke37126194955-642
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield37119174558-1342
19Middlesbrough37914143747-1041
20Wigan AthleticWigan371011163850-1241
21Hull City37118184963-1441
22Charlton AthleticCharlton37109184454-1039
23Luton TownLuton37105224371-2835
24Barnsley37810194262-2034

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