MX23RW : Monday, November 25 12:06:08| >> :60:510:510:
[monks data]
Attendance: 13,099
Blackburn logo
Championship | Gameweek 36
Feb 29, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Swansea logo

2-2

Gallagher (25'), Johnson (90')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Brewster (45'), Ayew (48' pen.)

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City, including team news and predicted lineups.

Two teams battling for playoff positions in the Championship will lock horns at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon when Blackburn Rovers welcome Swansea City.

Blackburn are currently eighth in the table, four points off the top six, while Swansea sit in ninth position, five points off the playoffs during a vital stage of the campaign.


Match preview

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray and Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill pictured on February 26, 2020© Reuters

Blackburn's league form in 2020 has been impressive, suffering just one defeat since New Year's Day to move up the table and indeed to within touching distance of the playoff positions.

Tony Mowbray's side recorded successive wins over Hull City and Charlton Athletic earlier this month but have been held by Brentford and Stoke City in their last two matches.

Rovers are very much in the top-six argument, though, as they sit just four points off sixth-placed Preston North End with every Championship side having played 35 matches this season.

Blackburn have only lost once on home soil in the league since the end of September but have not beaten Swansea in the league since December 2011 in England's top flight.

Swansea City's players look dejected after conceding a fourth goal in their 4-4 draw with Hull City on February 14, 2020© Reuters

Swansea's recent form has not exactly been terrific, but the Welsh outfit have credit in the bank for their form earlier this season and as a result, are also in the top-six race.

Steve Cooper's side beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 last weekend but suffered a 1-0 loss away to Fulham on Wednesday night. The defeat at Craven Cottage left them in ninth spot in the division, only five points behind Preston ahead of what is a huge game at Ewood Park.

The Swans have only actually won one of their last seven in the league, though, and the fact that their next match after this one is at home to leaders West Bromwich Albion makes this contest particularly important.

Each of the last two Championship affairs between the two teams have finished level, but Swansea did beat Blackburn 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium in October 2018.

The league table suggests that there is not much between the two teams when it comes to quality, but there is no question that the hosts will enter the clash in the better form.

Blackburn Championship form: DLWWDD

Swansea Championship form: DLDDWL


Team News

Lewis Holtby in action for Blackburn Rovers on January 18, 2020© Reuters

Blackburn are still without the services of Bradley Dack and Lewis Holtby due to long-term knee injuries, while Derrick Williams and Corry Evans remain on the sidelines.

Joe Rothwell made his return against Stoke on Wednesday, though, and is again expected to keep his spot in an attacking position alongside Stewart Downing, Sam Gallagher and Adam Armstrong.

Dominic Samuel, though, is an option for change should Mowbray wish to shuffle his pack.

As for Swansea, George Byers and Mike van der Hoorn are still on the sidelines, but the Welsh side did not pick up any fresh concerns against Fulham on Wednesday night.

On-loan Liverpool forward Rhian Brewster should again lead the line, while Andre Ayew is certain to keep his spot in a wide position for the visitors.

There could be changes elsewhere, though, with Jordan Garrick pushing for a spot in the XI.

Blackburn possible starting lineup:
Walton; Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bell; Johnson, Travis; Rothwell, Downing, Gallagher; Armstrong

Swansea possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Naughton, Cabango, Rodon, Bidwell; Fulton, Grimes; Garrick, Gallagher, Ayew; Brewster


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Blackburn 1-1 Swansea

Blackburn will be looking for their first league win over Swansea since 2011, but we fancy the Welsh side to secure a share of the spoils this weekend. A draw would not particularly help either side as they look to move into the top six, but it would not be the worst result in the world for either manager.



ID:391087: cacheID:391087:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8818:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a win with a probability of 48.54%. A win for had a probability of 26.63% and a draw had a probability of 24.8%.

The most likely scoreline for a win was 1-0 with a probability of 10.51%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.45%) and 2-0 (8.43%). The likeliest win was 0-1 (7.35%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.78%).


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray and Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill pictured on February 26, 2020
Read Next:
Tony Mowbray frustrated by Blackburn goalless draw at home to Stoke
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!