MX23RW : Thursday, May 5 02:20:26| >> :600:491023:491023:
[monks data]
Apr 18, 2022 at 3pm UK at Ewood Park
Blackburn
0 - 1
Stoke

Wharton (32'), Paul van Hecke (34')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Brown (4')
Maja (23'), Smith (56')

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

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

Blackburn Rovers play host to Stoke City on Easter Monday fortunate to still be within two points adrift of the Championship playoff positions.

Meanwhile, despite winning three of their last five fixtures, Stoke still find themselves down in 15th position in the standings.


Match preview

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray reacts on March 19, 2022© Reuters

Although Blackburn looked well on course to be a factor in the automatic promotion race at the midway point, Tony Mowbray would have been wary of half the season still being remaining.

Nevertheless, he could not have anticipated the magnitude of the drop-off in form that his side have suffered, collecting just 18 points from as many games since the turn of the year.

Remarkably, just 10 goals have been scored during those games, the most recent coming from leading marksman Ben Brereton Diaz against Peterborough United on Friday, the Chile international netting for the first time since December.

However, despite that goal coming in the 77th minute, playing with 10 men since the 41st minute ultimately did for Rovers, who conceded two late goals to lose to the division's 23rd-placed side.

While Rovers have somehow managed to stay within two points of the playoff places, Mowbray will leave his players in no doubt that only a win will do against their next opponents.

Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill on February 8, 2022© Reuters

Stoke have enjoyed a resurgence of sorts in recent weeks, under-pressure manager Michael O'Neill seeing his side collect nine points from a possible 12, all against teams with plenty to play for.

However, the Potters' inconsistency was once again on show on Friday as they went down by a 1-0 scoreline to Bristol City, conceding the decisive goal six minutes from time.

Still down in 15th position, Stoke now only have pride to play for, and even an encouraging end to the campaign may not be enough to keep O'Neill in a job for 2022-23.

While Blackburn possess the best home record in the division, Stoke have the 13th-best return on their travels, winning just six of their 21 fixtures.

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

Stoke City Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L



Team News

Blackburn Rovers' Joe Rothwell in action with Luton Town's Carlos Mendes Gomes on September 11, 2021© Reuters

Blackburn will be forced into at least one change with Tayo Edun serving a one-match ban for his dismissal against Peterborough.

Joe Rothwell may come back into the side as his replacement, providing that he has recovered from illness, but Bradley Johnson and Bradley Dack are also on standby.

Harry Pickering and Tyrhys Dolan are options at left wing-back and in attack if Mowbray decides to further freshen his side up.

O'Neill is expected to make alterations to his Stoke XI with Romaine Sawyers and Josh Maja both in line to feature in midfield and attack.

Ben Wilmot is pushing for a recall in defence, but youngster William Forrester should feature for the third game in succession.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Lenihan, Van Hecke, Wharton; Nyambe, Travis, Rothwell, Pickering; Buckley; Dolan, Brereton Diaz

Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Bonham; Forrester, Jagielka, Harwood-Bellis; Smith, Baker, Allen, Sawyers, Tymon; Maja, Brown


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Stoke City

Both teams are in a position where they may as well thrown caution to the wind in this contest, something which should make the game an entertaining spectacle. With this game being a difficult one to call, we can only back a high-scoring draw, one which will not suit either club.



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


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How you voted: Blackburn vs Stoke

Blackburn Rovers
51.9%
Draw
44.4%
Stoke City
3.7%
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CFulham452799106396790
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest4523101272393379
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield4522131062471579
5Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd4520121359451472
6Luton TownLuton452012136255772
7Middlesbrough4520101558461270
8Millwall451815125344969
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn451812155749866
10West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom451713154845364
11Coventry CityCoventry451712165958163
12Queens Park RangersQPR45189185959063
13Stoke CityStoke451710185651561
14Preston North EndPreston451516144855-761
15Swansea CitySwansea451613165867-961
16Blackpool451612175453160
17Bristol City451510206275-1355
18Hull City45148234053-1350
19Cardiff CityCardiff45148234968-1950
20Birmingham CityBirmingham451114204973-2447
21Reading45138245486-3241
RDerby CountyDerby451413184552-734
RPeterborough UnitedPeterborough45810273887-4934
RBarnsley45612273369-3630

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