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Championship

Feb 28, 2015 at 3.30pm UK

Bournemouth
0-0
Blackburn Blackburn Rovers

Preview: Bournemouth vs. Blackburn Rovers

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 26 February 2015

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between Bournemouth and Blackburn Rovers as the hosts look to get their title challenge back on track.

Bournemouth will look to get their ailing title challenge back on track this weekend as they host Blackburn Rovers at Dean Court.

The Cherries' form has deserted them at a crucial stage of the season, picking up just two points from the last 12 available to drop from top of the pile down to fourth.

Eddie Howe has insisted that it is not yet time for his side to panic, but suddenly six points separate them from league leaders Derby County while they are just one ahead of Brentford in seventh.

Much could still change over the remaining 13 matches of the campaign, but a return to form is crucial for Bournemouth sooner rather than later if they are to avoid slipping not just out of the title race but also out of the playoffs.

Wednesday's defeat to Nottingham Forest made it four games without a win for the Cherries - their worst run since a seven-game spell in late 2013 - while they are looking to avoid three consecutive defeats this weekend for the first time since being promoted to the Championship.

It has certainly been a damaging week for the club so far, and 2015 as a whole has been a difficult year up to this point, with Bournemouth having lost more league games than they have won since the turn of the year.

A return to Dean Court won't do much to lighten the mood either, with the Cherries having picked up more points away from home this season than they have in front of their own fans. Having said that, they have only been beaten once at home in the Championship in their last 12 games at the Goldsands.

Howe will be boosted by the return of Harry Arter from suspension this weekend, and he could be one of a number of changes for the hosts.

Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels are among those pushing for a recall, but Yann Kermorgant may once again miss out due to a recent family bereavement.

Blackburn's season continues to lurch this way and that, with a lack of consistency once again preventing them from launching a concerted playoff charge this season.

Gary Bowyer's side are now 15 points off the top six and, despite sitting in 10th place, are actually closer to the relegation zone in terms of points.

They let a lead slip on Tuesday as Norwich City came from behind to win 2-1 at Ewood Park, making it three games without a win for Rovers.

Their minds may already be drifting to the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool at Anfield, with that now Blackburn's most realistic chance of salvaging a successful season.

Their away form is not exactly encouraging, however, with Rovers having not won a Championship game on the road since October - a run of nine matches that has seen them pick up just five points from a possible 27.

Joshua King was forced off just seven minutes after coming on as a sub in midweek and is unlikely to feature on Saturday, leaving Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede to lead the line once again.

Ben Marshall is expected to return to the starting lineup, however, in what could be the only change for Bowyer this weekend.

Blackburn raced into a three-goal lead inside 25 minutes of the reverse fixture before holding off a late fightback from Bournemouth to clinch a 3-2 victory at Ewood Park in August.

Bournemouth:

Recent form: WWDDLL

Possible starting lineup: Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Pugh; Pitman, Wilson

Blackburn:

Form in Championship: WLWDDL
Form in all competitions: LWWDDL

Possible starting lineup: Steele; Baptiste, Hanley, Kilgallon, Olsson; Marshall, Cairney, Evans, Conway; Rhodes, Gestede

Sports Mole says: 2-1