SM
Bradford vs. Notts County: 15 hrs 32 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
BL
Championship | Gameweek 1
Aug 7, 2021 at 3pm UK
Ewood Park
SL
Blackburn
2 - 1
Swansea
Gallagher (36'), Brereton Diaz (48' pen.)
Pickering (18'), Buckley (79'), Ayala (82'), Rothwell (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Paterson (52')
Latibeaudiere (40'), Cabango (88')

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

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

Russell Martin begins his Swansea City reign with a trip to face Blackburn Rovers in the club's Championship opener for 2021-22.

Despite a quiet summer on the transfer front, Tony Mowbray will be looking to get Rovers off to a positive start at Ewood Park.


Match preview

After a poor second half to last season, it was expected that Blackburn would opt for a change in the dugout, ending Mowbray's four-year stay at the North-West outfit.

However, both parties ultimately agreed that it was mutually beneficial to continue their partnership, Rovers looking for stability and Mowbray keen to remain at a second-tier club.

Blackburn are yet to respond to a number of outgoings over the summer, while it remains possible that last season's top goalscorer Adam Armstrong could still leave for a Premier League side.

The scenario in front of Mowbray means that a respectable start to the campaign would be deemed a considerable bonus, but Rovers have been presented with a favourable opening triple-header.

With the 2021 Championship playoff runners-up in front of them this weekend, some may argue that Blackburn could have been afforded an easier start.

However, the departure of Steve Cooper will inevitably lead to changes at the Liberty Stadium, and Russell Martin has a big task on his hands to replicate the progression of the past two years.

The former MK Dons boss is boosted by an array of prospects arriving in South Wales, but getting the best out of ex-PSV Eindhoven striker Joel Piroe will be his first task.

Piroe has been selected as the player to fill the boots of experienced Ghanaian Andre Ayew, whose second spell in South Wales came to an end earlier this summer.

Like their hosts, Swansea will miss the loanees which returned to their parent clubs over the summer, and the majority of their supporters will not know what to expect ahead of the visit to Ewood Park.

Blackburn Rovers pre-season friendlies form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • D

Swansea City pre-season friendlies form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L

Team News

Blackburn may have a decision to make regarding the availability of Armstrong, who is allegedly the subject of a big-money offer from Norwich City.

While Daniel Ayala did not feature against Bolton Wanderers last weekend, Mowbray has hinted that the Spaniard is in contention for this contest.

Joe Rothwell and Sam Gallagher may also be involved after starting the last pre-season friendly as substitutes.

Swansea will be without the suspended Jay Fulton after the midfielder was sent off in last season's playoff final.

Connor Roberts is also absent through injury, leaving Kyle Naughton to deputise at right-back and Joel Latibeaudiere to feature in the back three.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Nyambe, Ayala, Lenihan, Pickering; Davenport, Travis; Brereton, Rothwell, Gallagher; Armstrong

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Benda; Latibeaudiere, Bennett, Cabango; Naughton, Grimes, Smith, Manning; Dhanda; Piroe, Lowe


We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Swansea City

With neither team enjoying the best preparations for the new season, we feel that both clubs will be focused on avoiding an opening-day defeat. With that in mind, do not expect much entertainment at Ewood Park in a game which could end in a low-scoring draw.



Top 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__458122 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-05 14:43:50:
html db last update - 2021-08-04 23:10:11 :

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

Subscribe to our newsletter


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
Swansea City name Russell Martin as new manager
Premier League confirms Forest four-point deduction
Premier League Table
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
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our newsletter


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

Premier League Team of the Season so far - Haaland, Rice, Van Dijk

1

PL

Lille's Yoro 'favours Real Madrid move over Man United, Chelsea'

2

LY

Lionel Messi to miss Argentina friendlies due to injury

3

LM

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City 'in contention to sign Kimmich'

4

AL

Preview: Brann vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PB

Barcelona's Andreas Christensen pulls out of Denmark squad

6

BA

Arsenal's Thomas Partey left out of Ghana squad at own request

7

AT

Nottingham Forest 'handed four-point deduction for PSR breach'

8

NF

Chelsea to miss out on Jamal Musiala windfall?

9

CT

Man United players 'open to Mason Greenwood return'

10

MU


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