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Blackburn logo
Championship
Jan 25, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Derby logo

1-1

Gestede (47')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Bamford (84')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Derby County

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between two playoff-chasing sides as Blackburn host Derby at Ewood Park.

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to return to winning ways when they host high-flying Derby County at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Blackburn saw their playoff hopes take a blow last weekend courtesy of a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest, a result that leaves them four points behind sixth-placed Reading.

That also made it nine goals conceded in their last two matches having also been beaten 5-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup last Wednesday.

Gary Bowyer's side have lost just three times at home all season, and only one of those defeats have come in their last seven matches at Ewood Park.

Jordan Rhodes is expected to make his return to the starting lineup having been left on the bench for the last two games, but Leon Best remains a doubt for the hosts.

Derby, meanwhile, picked up points for the first time in 2014 courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Having ended 2013 in fine form, the Rams lost their first three games this year before beating Brighton to solidify their place in the playoff spots.

They now sit five points behind second-placed Queens Park Rangers and would close the gap to the automatic promotion spots to just two with a win on Saturday as neither Burnley or QPR are in Championship action.

Steve McClaren's side were beaten 4-1 by Leicester City in the last match on their travels, but they still boast the best away record in the league this season, picking up 26 points compared to the 21 in front of their own fans.

The visitors could remain unchanged for the match, and they will definitely be without Paul Coutts through injury, while Johnny Russell is also a doubt.

Recent form

Blackburn: LWDWLL

Derby: DWLLLW

Possible starting lineups

Blackburn: Robinson; Henley, Hanley, Dann, Spurr; Williamson, Lowe, Cairney, Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes

Derby: Grant; Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Hughes, Eustace, Bryson; Dawkins, Martin, Ward

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Forest boss Billy Davies during the match against Watford on August 25, 2013
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1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5Watford168262524126
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
18Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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