Looking to reduce the gap between themselves and the top six, Blackburn Rovers will welcome Bristol City to Ewood Park on Tuesday night for an intriguing-looking Championship encounter.
Rovers have now suffered successive defeats following the loss to Leeds United last time out, while the Robins are still adapting to life under new management.
Match preview
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Blackburn Rovers have lost back-to-back Championship matches for only the second time this season after a shock defeat at strugglers Sheffield Wednesday preceded a 2-0 win for Daniel Farke's promotion-chasing Leeds at Ewood Park - a game in which the visitors flexed their top-tier quality.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's men enjoyed more of the possession and managed more shots over the course of the contest compared to their Yorkshire visitors, but clinical strikes either side of the half-time whistle from Daniel James and Premier League-linked Crysencio Summerville condemned Rovers to defeat.
The difference between Blackburn and Leeds in terms of ruthlessness and effectiveness in the final third really highlighted where the former had sadly weakened over the summer, with last season's marksman Ben Brereton Diaz securing a lucrative switch to La Liga giants Villarreal.
Although the Brereton Diaz and Bradley Dack era of Blackburn has ended, Tuesday's hosts still possess one of the division's highest-performing individuals in the form of Sammie Szmodics, with the ex-Peterborough United man leading the second tier's Golden Boot race with 14 goals from 20 appearances.
Rovers' form at Ewood Park so far has been the definition of hit-and-miss, with Tomasson's charges winning four and losing six of their 10 league matches at their Lancashire base, meaning only Joe Edwards's Millwall can match Blackburn's defeat tally in front of their home supporters.
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Bristol City's winless run in the Championship extended to three matches on Saturday afternoon with a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town, meaning that Liam Manning has collected a less-than-inspiring tally of five points from his first five matches in charge.
Darren Moore's Terriers took the lead at the John Smith's Stadium last time out thanks to a strike from summer arrival Delano Burgzorg, but the visitors from Bristol were able to force a share of the spoils in Yorkshire, with forward Tommy Conway bagging an equaliser in the second half.
Following a succession of mid-table finishes between 2020 and 2023, the Robins are looking to seriously challenge the top-six scene this season under the steady stewardship of ex-Oxford United boss Manning, with Tuesday's visitors currently sitting 14th in the league table, just four points behind sixth-placed Sunderland.
Similar to Blackburn, Bristol sanctioned a high-profile outgoing during the summer transfer window as playmaker Alex Scott moved to Premier League side Bournemouth for around £22m, and Manning's men have struggled offensively this term without the 20-year-old, ranking 20th in terms of big chances created.
The Robins have enjoyed recent clashes against Rovers - having battled through the last six meetings without defeat - with Blackburn's most recent success in the fixture coming back in June 2020, when Adam Armstrong and Corry Evans were on the scoresheet during a 3-1 victory.
Team News
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Blackburn were able to welcome back attackers Arnor Sigurdsson and Niall Ennis for the match against Leeds on Saturday following their respective injuries, and the former is expected to start on Tuesday.
The Icelandic forward is set to take the spot of 20-year-old Harry Leonard in the hosts' starting XI, with the academy graduate being substituted after 45 minutes on the weekend.
Tomasson's options in offensive areas are limited by the absence of Sam Gallagher, who is targeting a return to action at the end of December as he recovers from a tendon injury.
As for Bristol City, striker Nahki Wells is edging closer to first-team minutes following an ankle issue sustained in October, and the forward could play a part at Ewood Park.
Summer signing Ross McCrorie is yet to make a competitive appearance since his switch from Aberdeen but is back among the squad after surgery on a bacterial infection earlier in the year.
Premier League winner Andy King is still a couple of weeks away from featuring for the Robins after suffering a hamstring injury in the loss against Ipswich Town on October 25.
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Wahlstedt; Hill, Carter, Wharton, Pickering; Tronstad, Wharton, Moran, Szmodics, Sigurdsson; Ennis
Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Dickie; Sykes, James, Williams, Bell; Weimann, Knight, Conway
We say: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Bristol City
Blackburn were taught a lesson of ruthlessness by Farke's Leeds on the weekend, and we feel that Rovers could put their learnings into practice against Bristol City.
The Robins have failed to see a drastic improvement results-wise since the appointment of Manning, so we are expecting a loss for the visitors at Ewood Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
