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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Luton Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two of the Championship's most inconsistent sides go head to head on Saturday as Blackburn Rovers host Luton Town.

Both clubs have shown plenty of promise this season but have not performed regularly enough to mount a playoff push and sit 10th and 13th in the table respectively.


Match preview

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Blackburn are the league's top scorers with 40 goals to their name but put in a more defensive-minded display against Middlesbrough last weekend as Joe Rothwell's second-half goal secured a 1-0 win.

Tony Mowbray admitted that while he would have preferred his team to play free-flowing football, a physical and committed performance was needed to grind out the win.

The victory brought only Blackburn's second clean sheet in their last 12 games and helped close the gap on a Boro side a couple of places above them.

Rovers now sit six points behind the top six so there is still time to get themselves into the playoff mix, but they have not put consecutive victories together since the beginning of December.

However, they have proven hard to beat at home, losing just one of their last eight league matches at Ewood Park and that came against league leaders Norwich City.

Luton Town's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates against Bournemouth on January 16, 2021© Reuters

Luton travel to Lancashire with only one victory in their last eight away games, and they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend.

However, the Hatters left Stamford Bridge with their heads held high after putting in a brave showing and were very much in the tie until Tammy Abraham completed his hat-trick in the 74th-minute.

Goalscorer Jordan Clark has suggested that the team's performance will give them confidence for the rest of the Championship season and admitted that they are still aiming to get into the playoffs.

Nathan Jones's side are nine points off the top six and have three games against teams below them coming up so victory at Ewood Park could set them up for the start of a strong period.

Blackburn have won just one of their last seven games against Luton, while the reverse fixture in November finished 1-1, with the goals from Luke Berry and Sam Gallagher coming within three minutes of each other.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: LDLWDW
Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions): DLWLDW

Luton Town Championship form: DLWLWL
Luton Town form (all competitions): WWLWLL


Team News

Luton Town manager Nathan Jones pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Bradley Johnson limped off with a hamstring problem just ten minutes into Blackburn's match against Middlesbrough last weekend so he is a doubt for Saturday.

Johnson's potential absence could lead to a midfield shake up, with Rothwell potentially moving from the left wing into the centre, and Bradley Dack earning just a second start since his return from a long-term injury; that scenario would also allow Sam Gallagher to come back into the starting lineup in the front three.

Joe Morrell and Martin Cranie have been back in Luton training this week after recent injuries and could be available for the trip to Ewood Park.

James Collins should come back in upfront after dropping to the bench against Chelsea, while there is likely to be a first league start for January signing Kal Naismith at left-back.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Branthwaite, Douglas; Travis, Rothwell, Dack; Elliott, Armstrong, Gallagher

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Sluga; Bree, Lockyer, Bradley, Naismith; Rea; Cornick, Berry, Dewsbury-Hall, Clark; Collins


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Luton Town

Given that these two sides are close together in the table and have both had unpredictable seasons to date, this is a tough one to call. Blackburn have more attacking quality, but Luton are not easily overawed and could take a point from Ewood Park.


Top betting 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:432534:cQx

How you voted: Blackburn vs Luton

Blackburn Rovers
59.1%
Draw
31.8%
Luton Town
9.1%
22
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich29177539241558
2Brentford29169455302557
3Swansea CitySwansea27158435152053
4Watford29149637201751
5Reading2914694234848
6Bournemouth291210743281546
7Cardiff CityCardiff29117114033740
8Middlesbrough29117113230240
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn281161142311139
10Stoke CityStoke2991283333039
11Preston North EndPreston29123143437-339
12Barnsley28116113134-339
13Bristol City29123142939-1039
14Millwall2981472827138
15Luton TownLuton28107112329-637
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2989122530-533
17Queens Park RangersQPR2789102632-633
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2996143342-933
19Derby CountyDerby2887131929-1031
20Coventry CityCoventry29710122740-1331
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham2785143338-529
22Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2897122130-928
23Birmingham CityBirmingham29610132135-1428
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2847172149-2819

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