MX23RW : Wednesday, April 21 01:23:40| >> :120:12651:12651:

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

Sports Mole previews Monday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bournemouth will be looking to break back into the Championship playoff spots when they travel to Blackburn Rovers on Monday afternoon.

The Cherries made it back-to-back league wins with victory over Middlesbrough on Friday, while Blackburn's poor run continued with a 1-0 loss at bottom side Wycombe Wanderers.


Match preview

Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke scores their third goal against Middlesbrough in the Championship on April 2, 2021© Reuters

Bournemouth's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton a fortnight ago leaves them with just one target for the remaining seven weeks: promotion back to the Premier League.

Jonathan Woodgate's men have not been as consistent as they would have liked, but wins over Swansea City and Middlesbrough either side of the Southampton loss has them well placed.

With Barnsley and Reading, the two sides directly above them in the table, playing out a 1-1 draw on Friday, Bournemouth are three points off fifth place with a game in hand.

The Cherries' fate is very much in their own hands, then, and they will be seeking three wins in a row for only the second time this campaign when they travel to Blackburn.

However, having lost just one of their first 10 away league games this season, Bournemouth have now lost four of their last eight on the road.

It is that away form that could come back to haunt them, although Blackburn are winless in their last six home league games - their longest such run since October-December 2004.

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray pictured in January 2021© Reuters

Rovers' form both home and away makes for bad reading, in fact, as they have won just one of their last 13 games, losing eight of those.

The pressure is growing on Tony Mowbray following Friday's defeat to Wycombe, with Fred Onyedinma heading home the only goal of the game early in the second half.

Blackburn were top-six contenders at one stage, but they are now way down in 15th, potentially just four points above the dropzone if sides below them win their games in hand.

Mowbray's men face playoff-chasing Bournemouth and Cardiff City in their next two games, before a run of key fixtures against sides around them in the table.

Should this poor run continue much longer, Blackburn may well find themselves dragged into serious trouble in the final throes of the campaign.

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

Bournemouth Championship form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

Bournemouth form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W


Article continues after the advert


Team News

Blackburn Rovers' Adam Armstrong celebrates scoring against Rotherham United in the Championship on December 16, 2020© Reuters

Blackburn's top scorer Adam Armstrong has been in and out of the side of late due to injury and missed the loss at Wycombe.

Mowbray has hinted that Armstrong may be back for Monday's game, which could lead to a slight reshuffle assuming Harvey Elliott and Sam Gallagher also start.

Joe Rankin-Costello was replaced before half time on good Friday, so Ryan Nyambe is in line to start at right-back.

As for Bournemouth, Jefferson Lerma returned to the starting lineup against Middlesbrough and will retain his place here, likely alongside Jack Wilshere once again.

Lewis Cook, David Brooks, Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas all remain sidelined, but Woodgate has plenty of other options to choose from.

Should the visitors wish to freshen things up, Shane Long and Ben Pearson are contenders to come into the XI.

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

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Smith, Carter-Vickers, Cook, Rico; Wilshere, Lerma; Stanislas, Billing, Danjuma; Solanke


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Bournemouth

Bournemouth have found some momentum in the league with back-to-back wins, albeit either side of a disappointing FA Cup exit, while Blackburn have won just once since January.

The Cherries have not lost a league game on Easter Monday since April 2009, meanwhile, winning four and drawing two, which is a run we can see them extending with victory here.



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


ID:441707:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10991:

How you voted: Blackburn vs Bournemouth

Blackburn Rovers
13.0%
Draw
10.1%
Bournemouth
76.8%
69
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Bournemouth manager Jonathan Woodgate pictured on February 20, 2021
Read Next:
Jonathan Woodgate hits out at "absolutely ridiculous" Easter schedule
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Primeira Liga
Coupe de France
Turkish Super Lig
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Ukrainian Premier League
Danish Superliga
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Copa Libertadores
Copa Sudamericana
AFC Champions League
Chinese Super League playoffs
Women's Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Watford432510860283285
3Swansea CitySwansea4322101152341876
4Brentford422015772413175
5Bournemouth4221111069412874
6Barnsley42218135446871
7Reading4219101357461167
8Queens Park RangersQPR431711155151062
9Cardiff CityCardiff4316131459471261
10Millwall421417114140159
11Middlesbrough42169174947257
12Stoke CityStoke421414144546-156
13Luton TownLuton41168173646-1056
14Preston North EndPreston43157214455-1152
15Bristol City42156214156-1551
16Blackburn RoversBlackburn431311195449550
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest421213173441-749
18Coventry CityCoventry421212183956-1748
19Birmingham CityBirmingham421212183250-1848
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield421211194562-1747
21Derby CountyDerby431110223151-2043
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham40116234154-1339
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds43129223655-1939
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe42810243266-3434

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!