Football – England – Championship
Saturday 22nd November 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Blackburn Rovers return to Ewood Park this weekend following back-to-back away draws at Millwall 2-2 and Brighton 1-1 as they extended their unbeaten stretch to seven games in the Championship.
Blackburn are currently sitting on the fringes of the play-off positions in 7th place but with an out-of-sorts Leeds United visiting this afternoon, I daresay Rovers will be going in search of the maximum haul of three points today. Blackburn have drawn four of their last seven, but three of these draws came on their travels while they hold a solid record at Ewood Park.
Rovers’ home record stands at 4-3-1 15/10 and they’ve recently registered wins over bottom half clubs Birmingham City 1-0 and Reading 3-1 having already disposed of high-flying Bournemouth earlier in the season along with Wigan Athletic. Leading goalscorer Gestede (10 goals) is likely to partner Rhodes up front today.
Leeds United have been the subject of an ongoing ‘soap opera’ saga that involves their infamous Italian owner and much has been publicised about his antics in the background at Elland Road. Caretaker-manager Neil Redfearn has been re-installed following the sacking of Darko Milanic but results have continued to elude the once famous club.
Just one Championship win from their last nine outings tells its own story, and that was only a 3-1 win over rock-bottom club Blackpool on home turf. Away from their Elland Road home, Leeds have been found wanting as their away record of 1-2-5 8/16 shows.
It’s now four matches without a win on the road having lost three of those last four, and their only triumph came way back in September when they beat Bournemouth (before The Cherries got onto their run of form).
I can’t look past Blackburn for this one for the straight win, perhaps 2-1 to Rovers.
Pick: Blackburn Rovers straight win @ 1.73 Coral
