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Championship | Gameweek 46
May 7, 2022 at 12.30pm UK
St Andrew's
BL

Birmingham
1 - 2
Blackburn

Pedersen (78')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Buckley (29'), Brereton Diaz (45')
Edun (43')

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

:Headline: Preview: Birmingham City vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Blackburn Rovers make the trip to Birmingham City with Tony Mowbray looking for the win which will secure a top-10 finish in the Championship standings.

At a time when Mowbray will be taking charge of his final Rovers game, Lee Bowyer may find himself in a similar situation in the Blues dugout with Birmingham down in 20th position and having gone five matches without success.


Match preview

There was a feeling at the end of last season that Mowbray should have been departing Ewood Park with things having seemingly gone stale, but the veteran boss proved everyone with that opinion wrong during the opening half of 2021-22 as Blackburn became promotion candidates.

However, after recording just 21 points from as many matches since the turn of the year, Mowbray has made the only decision that he can and revealed that he will be stepping down as manager after five years in charge.

While the 58-year-old has brought stability to Rovers, they have not been able to retain a cutting edge long enough to challenge for the Premier League, and they will go in a different direction in the summer.

In the short term, four defeats have come in seven games, their latest 3-0 setback against Bournemouth last weekend ensuring that they dropped out of contention for the playoffs.

Although their goal difference means that they should be safe when it comes to finishing in 10th position or above, Mowbray will want to end on a high at St Andrew's.

At a time when Blackburn's issues have been on the pitch, many of Birmingham's have come off it, and there is an instability about Blues which has ensured that Bowyer's position in the dugout has never felt safe.

Given the level of player at his disposal, Bowyer should be guiding Birmingham to a higher finish than 20th, but the circumstances mean that everyone involved is probably satisfied with survival in the second tier.

The West Midlands outfit have shown plenty of fight in their last two games, holding leads against each of Millwall and Cardiff City, but conceding late penalties have led to each game ending in draws.

With just one win from nine games, Bowyer can have few complaints if the much-criticised Blues hierarchy make another change over the coming weeks, but a fresh start may benefit all parties in the long term.

Birmingham City Championship form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • D

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L

Team News

Having earned a spirited point at Cardiff last weekend, Bowyer may be prepared to select the same Birmingham starting lineup for this contest.

However, Jordan James and Jordan Graham are alternatives in midfield, while Scott Hogan may get the nod over Nottingham Forest loanee Lyle Taylor.

Despite wanting to end his Rovers reign on a positive note, Mowbray could feel obliged to look to the club's future with some players out of contract or likely to move elsewhere.

That could see Deyovaisio Zeefuik replace Darragh Lenihan at right-back and Tyrhys Dolan being restored to the attack at the expense of Ben Brereton Diaz.

Daniel Ayala will also hope to be handed a rare 90 minutes in the middle of the backline, potentially replacing Jan Paul van Hecke.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Etheridge; Gordon, Roberts, Friend; Colin, Sunjic, Gardner, Bela; Bacuna; Hogan, Hernandez

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Zeefuik, Ayala, Wharton, Pickering; Travis, Rothwell; Hedges, Buckley, Gallagher; Dolan


We say: Birmingham City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

While both managers will want to end disappointing seasons on a high, they will also want to give each squad a helping hand for the future. With changes aplenty most likely, we feel that Birmingham may show the extra desire to get all three points on the board in front of their own supporters.



Top 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




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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
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