SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano: 20 hrs 15 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
BL
Blackburn logo
Championship | Gameweek 21
Dec 26, 2020 at 3pm UK
Ewood Park
SW
Sheffield Wednesday logo

Blackburn
1 - 1
Sheff Weds

Rothwell (76')
Lenihan (79')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Reach (41')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Sheffield Wednesday - prediction, team news, lineups

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

Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to build on their maiden victory under Tony Pulis when they travel to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.

In contrast, the promotion-chasing hosts suffered a setback in their march to the Championship's top six as they lost 1-0 at Stoke City last time out.


Match preview

Preview: Blackburn vs. Sheff Weds - prediction, team news, lineups

December has not been a month of festive joy for Blackburn Rovers, who have only managed to pick up two wins from their last six, a run which also includes three defeats from their last four.

Tony Mowbray's men succumbed to a seventh-minute Nick Powell header at Stoke last weekend as their bid for a playoff berth took another blow, with Rovers now dropping to 11th in the table following an underwhelming spell of form over the past few weeks.

In fairness, this weekend's hosts are having to deal with a ravaged squad at the minute due to injuries, but with only one win from their last five in the Championship, Blackburn are now five points adrift of the top six after 20 matches.

Nevertheless, Blackburn have turned up the heat when it matters most at home, where Mowbray's side have taken the spoils in four of their last five outings, and Bournemouth are the only side who can boast a better goal tally than Blackburn's 34 at present.

Mowbray's side could break back into the top half with a win on Boxing Day, but Blackburn would also have to hope that Bristol City and Cardiff City lose to Wycombe Wanderers and Brentford respectively.

Meanwhile, Pulis finally picked up his long-awaited first Wednesday victory at the ninth attempt over Coventry City, with Tom Lees netting the all-important winner in the second half at Hillsborough.

The mood in the Owls' camp will undoubtedly be much more positive following a first win since November 3, but Wednesday are still in the relegation zone and cannot climb above the dotted line no matter what happens on Boxing Day.

The Owls - who sit 23rd - are four points adrift of 21st-placed Rotherham United and 22nd-placed Derby County, and both teams have a game in hand over Wednesday, who are also level with basement side Wycombe Wanderers.

Furthermore, Pulis's side have not managed to triumph away from home since a 1-0 victory at Birmingham City back in October, with Wednesday losing six out of seven on the road since.

Blackburn scraped a narrow 2-1 victory when the sides met at Ewood Park last season, but Wednesday were thrashed 5-0 at home by this weekend's hosts at Hillsborough back in January.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: WDLLWL

Sheffield Wednesday Championship form: DLLLLW


Team News

As mentioned, Blackburn have several players in the treatment room heading into the New Year, with the likes of Elliot Bennett, Joe Rankin-Costello, Scott Wharton and Corry Evans all sidelined.

On a more positive note for Mowbray, winger Ben Brereton is back in training and has an outside chance of being fit for Saturday, but a start still seems unlikely.

Daniel Ayala has not been ruled out of this game despite struggling with a foot injury, but the defender is considered much more of a doubt than Brereton.

As for Wednesday, the visitors are already without Dominic Iorfa for the long term, while Julian Borner is unlikely to make the cut either.

However, midfielder Barry Bannan took to Instagram to assure fans that he would be fit for this one after an injury scare against Coventry, and there is also optimism over Massimo Luongo's fitness.

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

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood; Palmer, Dunkley, Lees; Harris, Bannan, Luongo, Pelupessy, Reach; Paterson, Windass


We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Despite finally managing to lead his strugglers to a much-needed three points, Pulis is facing an uphill battle to make Sheffield Wednesday's trip to Blackburn count for something. The hosts have become renowned for their goalscoring capabilities - even with a plethora of injuries - and the Owls have only mustered five strikes on the road all season, so this should be a routine win for Mowbray's side.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or 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.Home/Away:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__427685 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:43:48:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:43:48 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Michael O'Neill praises "great outlet" Nick Powell in Blackburn win
Two strikers, but no strikers? Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd33226547232470
2Leeds UnitedLeeds32209366194769
3Burnley33171423993065
4Sunderland321711449282162
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn33156123931851
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom331115742311148
7Coventry CityCoventry33138124441347
8Bristol City33111394137446
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds33129124650-445
10Watford33136144348-545
11Middlesbrough32128125043744
12Norwich CityNorwich331111115145644
13Queens Park RangersQPR331111113941-244
14Millwall321011113233-141
15Preston North EndPreston3291493438-441
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd33911133447-1338
17Swansea CitySwansea33107163446-1237
18Portsmouth3399154155-1436
19Stoke CityStoke32811133140-935
20Cardiff CityCardiff32711143554-1932
21Hull City3279163243-1130
22Derby CountyDerby3378183346-1329
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth32610163466-3228
24Luton TownLuton3276193052-2227
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Two strikers, but no strikers? Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

NEW

1

TS
Two strikers, but no strikers? Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

Greek Gunners: Arsenal 'initiate contact' for 'new Iniesta'?

2

GG
Greek Gunners: Arsenal 'initiate contact' for 'new Iniesta'?

Preview: Shrewsbury vs. Huddersfield - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PS
Preview: Shrewsbury vs. Huddersfield - prediction, team news, lineups

Three minutes for Obi: Amorim explains reluctance to use bench vs. Spurs

4

TM
Three minutes for Obi: Amorim explains reluctance to use bench vs. Spurs

'Not a soft knock': Could Liverpool's Gakpo miss two crucial fixtures?

5

'A
'Not a soft knock': Could Liverpool's Gakpo miss two crucial fixtures?

Preview: Kansas vs. Inter Miami - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PK
Preview: Kansas vs. Inter Miami - prediction, team news, lineups

Man City earmark Serie A star as De Bruyne successor?

7

MC
Man City earmark Serie A star as De Bruyne successor?

Planning ahead? Belgium international 'catches the eye' of Championship side Leeds

8

PA
Planning ahead? Belgium international 'catches the eye' of Championship side Leeds

Arsenal to rival Chelsea for £17m-rated attacker?

9

AT

Chelsea line up £83m summer bid for Barca star?

10

CL
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .