MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 21:23:24| >> :600:86976:86976:
[monks data]
Blackburn logo
Championship | Gameweek 3
Aug 14, 2022 at 3pm UK
Ewood Park
West Brom logo

Blackburn
2 - 1
West Brom

Brereton Diaz (41'), Gallagher (47')
Gallagher (5'), Buckley (77'), Dack (89'), Travis (90')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Diangana (59')
Swift (37')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Blackburn Rovers will aim to continue their perfect start to the Championship season on Sunday, when they entertain West Bromwich Albion.

The hosts are the only side to win both of their opening two matches in England's second tier, while Steve Bruce's men sit on two points after consecutive draws.


Match preview

Blackburn Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson on August 10, 2022© Reuters

The beginning of the 2022-23 season acted as the start of a new era for Blackburn Rovers, with Jon Dahl Tomasson now at the helm after the departure of long-standing manager Tony Mowbray.

After an encouraging pre-season, in which draws with Dundee and Celtic were followed by victories and clean sheets against Hartlepool United and Lincoln City, the Lancashire outfit began the league campaign with a home contest against Queens Park Rangers.

They would come away with all three points as Lewis Travis hit the only goal of the game, before enjoying a successful trip to Swansea City, as Travis was again on the scoresheet alongside Sammie Szmodics and Ben Brereton Diaz in a 3-0 triumph.

Tomasson's men would make it three wins from three competitive games last time out, as they thrashed Hartlepool United 4-0 in the EFL Cup first round on Wednesday, with Scott Wharton, Bradley Dack, Tyrhys Dolan and Dilan Markanday all finding the net.

Already sitting as the only Championship side with a perfect record after two games, having picked up six points, found the net four times and not conceded, the Rovers will look to continue building and add a third notch to their wins column on home turf at the weekend.

West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Bruce on August 8, 2022© Reuters

West Bromwich Albion will travel in search of a first win of their own in the Championship this season, as they aim to push for promotion back to the top flight at the second time of asking after a somewhat disappointing 10th-placed finish last year.

Steve Bruce's side began the new season with a trip to Middlesbrough, and after falling behind to Isaiah Jones's early opener, they were able to leave with a point as John Swift netted an equaliser soon after half time.

The Baggies then faced another tough test at home to Watford and would again draw 1-1, as Karlan Grant levelled the scores on the stroke of the interval after Ismaila Sarr's long-range opener, and David Button denied Sarr from the penalty spot in the second half to ensure the spoils were shared.

Bruce's men would then pick up a first competitive victory of the season on Thursday, as Grant was again on the scoresheet at the Hawthorns, hitting the only goal as they beat Sheffield United 1-0 in an EFL Cup first-round tie.

Hoping to take confidence from that triumph but with their league schedule not getting any easier, the Midlands side will aim to be the first team to take points off Blackburn this season when they travel to Ewood Park on Sunday.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:
  • W
  • W

Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:
  • D
  • D

West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • W


Team News

Karlan Grant celebrates scoring for West Bromwich Albion on August 8, 2022© Reuters

Blackburn Rovers made plenty of changes for their cup tie with Hartlepool, and key men like Thomas Kaminski, Daniel Ayala, John Buckley and captain Lewis Travis will return from the outset at the weekend.

After an injury-stricken season last time around, in which he managed just nine league appearances, Bradley Dack was able to feature from the start on Wednesday, and he will be pushing to again line up in Sunday's game after getting on the scoresheet, while Tyrhys Dolan also found the net and laid his claim for a place.

They face plenty of competition, though, with Sammie Szmodics, Sam Gallagher and Ryan Hedges all playing important roles in the opening two league games, while Ben Brereton Diaz is bound to feature, having opened his account for the season after scoring 21 goals in 36 Championship appearances last term.

Bruce also opted to rest some important players in midweek, and the likes of Semi Ajayi, Conor Townsend and new arrivals John Swift and Jed Wallace are set to return to the starting XI.

Wallace and Swift combined for the equaliser away at Middlesbrough, and they will operate behind lone striker Karlan Grant, who has found the net in consecutive games, while fellow forward Daryl Dike remains out of action through injury.

Turkish midfielder Okay Yokuslu, who missed the first two games through injury, made a first start of the season on Thursday, and he and Alex Mowatt will both be pushing to stay in the XI, with Jayson Molumby and Jake Livermore having been preferred in the league thus far.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Brittain, Ayala, Wharton, Pickering; Travis, Buckley; Szmodics, Dack, Brereton Diaz; Gallagher

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Button; Furlong, Ajayi, O'Shea, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

While West Brom should pose a tough test, Blackburn look full of confidence under Tomasson, and we back them to pick up another impressive three-point haul at the weekend with home advantage.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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


ID:492182:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11846:
Written by
Sam Varley

Previews by email

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


Game History

How you voted: Blackburn vs West Brom

Blackburn Rovers
67.3%
Draw
9.6%
West Bromwich Albion
23.1%
52
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Crystal Palace's Cheikhou Kouyate pictured on September 26, 2020
Read Next:
Transfer rumours: Kouyate to Forest, Choudhury to Watford, Ngakia to Hull
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Lions
@
Bears
6pm
Browns
@
Bengals
6pm
Patriots
@
Bills
6pm
Titans
@
Colts
6pm
Giants
@
Falcons
6pm
Rams
@
Jets
6pm
Cardinals
@
Panthers
6pm
Eagles
@
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


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!