MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 01:41:56| >> :120:54940:54940:
[monks data]
Blackburn logo
Championship
Apr 5, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Ipswich logo

2-0

Rhodes (64'), Gestede (80')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Ipswich Town

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Blackburn and playoff-chasing Ipswich at Ewood Park.

Ipswich Town could enhance their chances of finishing in the top six when they travel to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

The Tractor Boys are among the frontrunners to displace the incumbent Reading from the coveted sixth place by the end of the season, and their hopes of doing so have been boosted by the faltering form of the teams around them in recent weeks.

Ipswich are the form team from the immediate contenders, with Reading winning just two of their last eight, Nottingham Forest without a win in 10 and Brighton & Hove Albion having not won in four.

Mick McCarthy's men, meanwhile, have only lost one of their last five outings, winning three to give themselves a real chance of ending the campaign in the top six.

Their run-in is relatively kind, with only Burnley to play from the teams currently above them in the table, although the likes of Watford, Bournemouth and Sheffield Wednesday will provide a tricky end to the campaign.

If they are to make it into the playoffs, then they will need to keep up their recent improvement away from home, where they have won their last two games without conceding having not won on the road since the turn of the year before that.

The team have coped well without the services of injured top scorer David McGoldrick so far, while the news that Jonathan Williams has extended his loan spell at the club is a big boost for McCarthy.

Blackburn's own playoff hopes appear to be all but over following a run of four consecutive draws which has left them seven points behind the top six.

Bournemouth's late charge and the form of the teams above them could give Blackburn some hope, however, and a five-match unbeaten streak is not the worst base to build upon for an unlikely push in the final seven games.

However, Gary Bowyer is more likely to be looking at next season now, with a remarkable set of results needed for them to enter the playoff reckoning at this stage of the season.

High on his list of priorities will be improving his side's form at Ewood Park, where they have won just once in their last six matches. They have by no means had the easiest fixtures in that time, but having been ahead in four of those matches, Bowyer will be unhappy that his side have been unable to close out the victories.

The good news for Rovers is that Jordan Rhodes is back amongst the goals, and he will lead the line again on Saturday in a side that is likely to be missing Ben Marshall and Jason Lowe through injury.

Recent form

Blackburn: LWDDDD

Ipswich: LWLWWD

Possible starting lineups

Blackburn: Robinson; Keane, Kilgallon, Hanley, Spurr; Dunn, Williamson, Evans, Conway; Cairney; Rhodes

Ipswich: Gerken; Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Anderson, Skuse, Hyam, Nouble; Williams; Murphy

Sports Mole says: 1-2


ID:147911: cacheID:147911:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5178:No Data Analysis info

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:
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson on the touchline on March 29, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: Blackburn vs. Leicester
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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!