SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Porto vs. Roma: 18 hrs 51 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
ML
Middlesbrough logo
Championship | Gameweek 15
Oct 15, 2022 at 3pm UK
Riverside Stadium
BL
Blackburn logo

Middlesbrough
1 - 2
Blackburn

Watmore (45+1')
Muniz (27'), McNair (90+5')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Lenihan (4' og.), Gallagher (17')
Travis (27'), Morton (51'), Kaminski (77'), Dolan (90+5')

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

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

Both teams will be looking to bounce back from defeat last time out when Middlesbrough host Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday.

The hosts are languishing in 21st place heading into the weekend, but Blackburn are only outside of the playoff places on goal difference.


Match preview

Preview: Middlesbrough vs. Blackburn - prediction, team news, lineups

Having been billed as one of the favourites to challenge for promotion to the Premier League this season, Middlesbrough's start to the campaign has been nothing short of incredibly disappointing.

Even so, the club's decision to sack Chris Wilder last week came as a huge surprise to many people, especially after the former Sheffield Unied boss sparked a huge upturn in form last season after he was appointed in November 2021.

Indeed, at one point the Teesiders looked like gatecrashing the playoff places - helped by winning eight successive league games at the Riverside Stadium between December and March - but a lack of firepower in attack ultimately contributed to them falling short.

Wilder clearly felt that this shortcoming in the squad was not addressed to the level that he expected during the summer transfer window, with owner Steve Gibson tightening the purse strings in recent seasons, particularly after the club's parachute payments ran empty following their relegation from the Premier League in 2017.

Gibson is yet to choose Wilder's successor ahead of Saturday's test against Blackburn, but if they are to finish inside the top six as many expected them to this season, they need to put a strong run of form together sooner rather than later, with their choice of manager potentially fundamental in determining whether that happens.

In contrast, many expected Blackburn to struggle this season after replacing Tony Mowbray with Jon Dahl Tomasson in their managerial dugout this summer, especially having seen several experienced players leave the club during the summer.

However, Rovers made a blistering start to life under the former Denmark international, winning their first three games of the season to sit top of the Championship in the early weeks of the campaign.

Things have inevitably plateaued since, with Tomasson's side only taking 12 points from their last 11 matches to fall outside of the top six after a 1-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.

Their general inconsistency is best illustrated by the fact that they are the only team in the division yet to draw a single league match, having won and lost exactly half of their matches. Indeed, they head to Middlesbrough off the back of an incredibly topsy-turvy sequence of results: loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss.

Those who are a slave to numbers may therefore suggest that they are due a win in the North-East on Saturday, but Blackburn could find it tough despite their forthcoming opponents' lack of form, with many of Middlesbrough's players likely to be aware of whoever their new manager proves to be will be watching on from afar.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:


Team News

Middlesbrough could be without goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who is on loan from Manchester City for the season, due to his ongoing knee issue flaring up again. If so, Liam Roberts is likely to be given the nod ahead of Luke Daniels between the posts, but Steffen will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness given his importance.

Otherwise, caretaker boss Leo Percovich has no injury or suspension concerns, with Ryan Giles likely to be restored at left wing-back ahead of Marc Bola having only been used from the bench during last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Millwall.

Blackburn, meanwhile, will travel without Sam Barnes due to a knee injury, but otherwise they appear to have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Sam Gallagher should return to the starting XI in place of George Hirst after only being used from the bench during the defeat to Wigan on Tuesday, while Callum Brittain could be handed a start at right wing-back to freshen things up.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Dijksteel, Fry, Clarke; Jones, Crooks, Howson, McGree, Giles; Akpom, Muniz

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Hyam, Ayala, Wharton; Britain, Morton, Travis, Pickering; Szmodics; Brereton, Gallagher


We say: Middlesbrough 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

We can envisage a tight game between these teams, with neither heading into the encounter in good form at all despite Blackburn's superior position in the table.

Both sides generally line-up in 3-5-2 formations, which could make it difficult to find space in between the lines for the more talented players on the pitch, potentially favouring Middlesbrough in front of their home support.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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


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__496876 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 13:09:23:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 13:09:23 :

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
Assessing the 2022-23 Championship promotion contenders
Triumphant Tarkowski: Everton score last-gasp equaliser in final Goodison Park derby
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds32209366194769
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd32216546232367
3Burnley32171323993064
4Sunderland321711449282162
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn32146123731648
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom321114741301147
7Bristol City32111294036445
8Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds32129114548-345
9Middlesbrough31128115042844
10Coventry CityCoventry32128124240244
11Norwich CityNorwich321110115044643
12Watford32126144248-642
13Queens Park RangersQPR321011113541-641
14Millwall311010113132-140
15Preston North EndPreston3191393438-440
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd32911123445-1138
17Swansea CitySwansea32107153343-1037
18Portsmouth3289153955-1633
19Stoke CityStoke31711132839-1132
20Cardiff CityCardiff31710143453-1931
21Derby CountyDerby3278173342-929
22Hull City3178163142-1129
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth31610153464-3028
24Luton TownLuton3176183051-2127
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

Will James be fit to start? Predicted Chelsea XI vs. Brighton

1

WJ
Will James be fit to start? Predicted Chelsea XI vs. Brighton

Top Premier League goalscorers of all time

2

TP
Top Premier League goalscorers of all time

Transfer battle: Man United 'eyeing swoop' for Real Madrid-linked defender?

NEW

3

TB
Transfer battle: Man United 'eyeing swoop' for Real Madrid-linked defender?

Chelsea 'suffer Jackson injury blow' as UCL pursuit receives setback

NEW

4

C'
Chelsea 'suffer Jackson injury blow' as UCL pursuit receives setback

Salah's silver lining: Liverpool attacker breaks PL record in dramatic derby

5

SS
Salah's silver lining: Liverpool attacker breaks PL record in dramatic derby

Preview: Qatar Open: Elena Rybakina vs. Iga Swiatek - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

6

PQ
Preview: Qatar Open: Elena Rybakina vs. Iga Swiatek - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

Man United 'watch new man in action' after 'agreeing £50m deal' for Sporting star

7

MU
Man United 'watch new man in action' after 'agreeing £50m deal' for Sporting star

The £75m man: Man United, Real Madrid 'among clubs interested' in centre-back

8

T�
The £75m man: Man United, Real Madrid 'among clubs interested' in centre-back

'Major boost' for Arteta, Amorim with Bundesliga club 'open to striker sale'

9

'B

Tottenham 'keen' on ex-Man City attacker but 'face huge battle' for his services

10

T'
1x1


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