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Championship | Gameweek 43
Apr 18, 2022 at 3pm UK
Ewood Park
SL

Blackburn
0 - 1
Stoke


Wharton (32'), Paul van Hecke (34')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Brown (4')
Maja (23'), Smith (56')

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

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

Blackburn Rovers play host to Stoke City on Easter Monday fortunate to still be within two points adrift of the Championship playoff positions.

Meanwhile, despite winning three of their last five fixtures, Stoke still find themselves down in 15th position in the standings.


Match preview

Although Blackburn looked well on course to be a factor in the automatic promotion race at the midway point, Tony Mowbray would have been wary of half the season still being remaining.

Nevertheless, he could not have anticipated the magnitude of the drop-off in form that his side have suffered, collecting just 18 points from as many games since the turn of the year.

Remarkably, just 10 goals have been scored during those games, the most recent coming from leading marksman Ben Brereton Diaz against Peterborough United on Friday, the Chile international netting for the first time since December.

However, despite that goal coming in the 77th minute, playing with 10 men since the 41st minute ultimately did for Rovers, who conceded two late goals to lose to the division's 23rd-placed side.

While Rovers have somehow managed to stay within two points of the playoff places, Mowbray will leave his players in no doubt that only a win will do against their next opponents.

Stoke have enjoyed a resurgence of sorts in recent weeks, under-pressure manager Michael O'Neill seeing his side collect nine points from a possible 12, all against teams with plenty to play for.

However, the Potters' inconsistency was once again on show on Friday as they went down by a 1-0 scoreline to Bristol City, conceding the decisive goal six minutes from time.

Still down in 15th position, Stoke now only have pride to play for, and even an encouraging end to the campaign may not be enough to keep O'Neill in a job for 2022-23.

While Blackburn possess the best home record in the division, Stoke have the 13th-best return on their travels, winning just six of their 21 fixtures.

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

Stoke City Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L

Team News

Blackburn will be forced into at least one change with Tayo Edun serving a one-match ban for his dismissal against Peterborough.

Joe Rothwell may come back into the side as his replacement, providing that he has recovered from illness, but Bradley Johnson and Bradley Dack are also on standby.

Harry Pickering and Tyrhys Dolan are options at left wing-back and in attack if Mowbray decides to further freshen his side up.

O'Neill is expected to make alterations to his Stoke XI with Romaine Sawyers and Josh Maja both in line to feature in midfield and attack.

Ben Wilmot is pushing for a recall in defence, but youngster William Forrester should feature for the third game in succession.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Lenihan, Van Hecke, Wharton; Nyambe, Travis, Rothwell, Pickering; Buckley; Dolan, Brereton Diaz

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bonham; Forrester, Jagielka, Harwood-Bellis; Smith, Baker, Allen, Sawyers, Tymon; Maja, Brown


We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Stoke City

Both teams are in a position where they may as well thrown caution to the wind in this contest, something which should make the game an entertaining spectacle. With this game being a difficult one to call, we can only back a high-scoring draw, one which will not suit either club.



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
1Leicester CityLeicester443041086394794
2Leeds UnitedLeeds44279880374390
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton442591085612484
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City441912136556969
8Coventry CityCoventry4317121468551363
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Millwall441411194355-1253
17Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
18Queens Park RangersQPR441311204157-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324
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