Blackburn Rovers and Watford meet at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon each looking for the win that will see them move back into Championship playoff contention.

The two clubs currently sit on the same points in 11th and ninth respectively, five points adrift of sixth-placed Hull City in the standings.

Match preview

As has become their trademark under Jon Dahl Tomasson, it has been one step forward and two steps back for Blackburn of late, as they bid to challenge for the top six.

Back-to-back defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United were followed by a much-needed 2-1 triumph over Bristol City at Ewood Park.

However, Rovers would then produce one of their worst performances of the season - not helped by a second-half red card - as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat at Southampton.

To their credit, Blackburn still boast the sixth-best away record in the division, but they have now conceded seven strikes on trips to Hillsborough and St Mary's.

The gap to the playoffs stands at five points, while they are just two points above 14th, and it highlights the need to get maximum points on the board again as soon as possible.

While Watford have only collected four points from a three-game period themselves, there is a sense that they are far better equipped to challenge for promotion.

Although just one point was claimed from a double-header with Southampton and Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road, the Hornets responded by thrashing Preston North End by a 5-1 scoreline away from home.

Valerien Ismael's side now have six wins and just two defeats from their last 12 matches in the Championship ahead of what appears to be a favourable run of games.

Complacency may be a concern given the manner of their success last weekend, yet Ismael will feel that momentum is building ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Team News

Several changes are expected to be made to the Blackburn XI, including an alternative needing to be found for the suspended Callum Brittain.

Tomasson may also deem it to be the right time to recall Lewis Travis to the midfield at a time when Niall Ennis and Harry Leonard are competing for an attacking role.

On his return from injury, Dominic Hyam remained an unused substitute at St Mary's, but he may be considered for a start here.

Barring any fitness issues, Ismael may be prepared to stick with the Watford XI that ruthlessly thrashed Preston at Deepdale.

While Ryan Porteous and Yaser Asprilla are obvious options to return to the fold, they could have to make do with a spot among the replacements.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Wahlstedt: Hill, Carter, S. Wharton, Pickering; Travis, A. Wharton; Sigurdsson, Szmodics, Moran; Ennis

Watford possible starting lineup:
Hamer; Dele-Bashiru; Sierralta, Hoedt, Lewis; Kayembe, Livermore, Kone; Martins, Bayo, Sema

We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Watford

The inconsistency of both teams make this a difficult one to predict. We fancy Watford to make an impression after their recent demolition job of Preston, yet it would not be Blackburn-like if they did not respond to a defeat by getting back on track.


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