Huddersfield Town welcome Blackburn Rovers to John Smith Stadium in the stand-out tie from the opening set of latest Sky Bet Championship fixtures.
Victory could see Huddersfield climb above their visitors into sixth, whereas Blackburn can go as high as second until Wednesday evening at least if West Brom and Stoke fail to win elsewhere.
Team News
Rolando Aarons and Danny Ward could be in contention for Huddersfield after being snubbed in Carlos Corberan’s team selection for Saturday’s defeat at Swansea.
Josh Koroma will be amongst other players also hoping for a recall but Pipa (groin), Jordan Rhodes (back) and Aaron Rowe (toe) remain absent.
Blackburn could be without Darragh Lenihan who faces a late fitness test after being substituted with a tight groin injury in Saturday’s mauling of Cardiff.
Joe Rankin-Costello (foot) and Bradley Johnson (hamstring) remain ruled out with Tony Mowbray unwilling to risk both players, until the duo are declared match fit.
Stat Attack
- Huddersfield have lost just one of their last ten matches against Blackburn, which have all come in the second tier of English Football (W3, D6, L1).
- Blackburn are winless in their last five visits to Huddersfield despite scoring in all five matches (D3, L2).
- Five of the last six draws in this fixture has seen both teams score, with three matches finishing 1-1 whilst two clashes ended in 2-2 draws except for a goalless draw at Rovers in October 2014.
- Matty Pearson has scored in two of three league appearances at home for Huddersfield this season.
- Blackburn are yet to lose away from home this season (W1, D3).
Prediction
Corberan faces a tough task to get his Huddersfield back to their attacking best because they have definitely fallen off the boil in their last two matches, which are games where they arguably should of won given the poor starts of Forest and Swansea this season.
Blackburn meanwhile seem to be clicking right now because they were just pure ruthless in their dismantling of Cardiff on Saturday, with Ben Brereton looking an absolute nightmare this season for opposition defences to handle which will be key if Huddersfield want a result here.
Tony Mowbray though will surely be aware of Blackburn’s poor away form in this fixture in recent seasons and with this taking place in midweek, I do expect squad rotations which might give Huddersfield some hope but I just can’t see Blackburn slipping up here after Saturday’s performance.
Prediction: Huddersfield Town 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Result: Huddersfield Town 3-2 Blackburn Rovers