The 2022/23 English Championship season resumes this weekend and the first match to kick off is between Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.
The game will be played on the 10th of December and the hosts begin the match in 3rd place on 36 points while the visitors are in 9th place on 31 points.
📸 Gallery: #Rovers in Marbella🔵⚪️https://t.co/l1Szvy1ZB5— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) December 6, 2022
📸 Gallery: #Rovers in Marbella🔵⚪️https://t.co/l1Szvy1ZB5
Blackburn Rovers come into the match having previously lost 3-0 at Burnley in the Championship prior to the World Cup. It was a disappointing result for Blackburn Rovers against a fellow promotion hopeful and the score was 0-0 at half time.
However, Burnley opened the scoring in the 55th minute and scored 2 further goals in the final 14 minutes to take maximum points.
Blackburn Rovers have played two friendly games since that defeat and have beat Hearts 4-0 and Ajax 2-0.
In terms of the Championship, Blackburn Rovers have lost 2 of their 3 most recent fixtures. In addition to the loss at Burnley, Blackburn Rovers suffered a 1-0 defeat at Coventry City. However, recent home form has been excellent and Blackburn Rovers have won each of their last 6 home Championship matches.
Trends show Blackburn Rovers have been scoring plenty of goals when playing at home in the Championship. They have scored 2 or more goals in 6 of their last 7 home league games and have seen over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of those 7 matches.
Preston North End travel to Ewood Park on the back of a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Millwall before the league stopped for the World Cup.
Millwall were 2-0 up after only 16 minutes but Preston North End replied with 2 goals of their own to level the match before half time. However, Millwall added to their tally with 2 more goals in the second half to take maximum points.
That was the first defeat in 4 games for Preston North End, having won all their previous 3 Championship fixtures. The wins came over Middlesborough and Swansea City at home plus Reading away.
Looking specifically at away form in the Championship and Preston North End are inconsistent having won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 away league games. Trends show there have been over 2.5 goals and both teams have scored in 4 of Preston North End’s last 5 away Championship fixtures.
Team news and Blackburn Rovers are without injured midfielder Sam Barnes, who has a knee problem.
Preston North End are expected to be without the injured duo of Ben Whiteman and Troy Parrott.
This is going to be a closely fought game and we expect to see both teams find the back of the net. However, with home advantage, Blackburn Rovers must start as the favourites to win and could take maximum points, with over 2.5 goals scored.