Blackburn Rovers host Middlesbrough in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash affecting both ends of the table.
Victory would see Blackburn stay 19th in the table and move potentially six points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Middlesbrough can stay second going into the international break with a win.
Team News
Hayden Carter is a doubt for Blackburn after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 2-1 comeback victory at Millwall last weekend.
Aynsley Pears (wrist), Connor O’Riordan (thigh), Augustus Kargbo (thigh/quad), Andri Gudjohnsen (ankle), Kristi Montgomery (hamstring), Axel Henriksson and Sondre Tronstad (both knee) remain absent.
Middlesbrough will be without Hayden Hackney after he suffered a calf injury during their 1-1 draw against Bristol City.
Dael Fry (hamstring), Alex Bangura (muscle), Alfie Jones (ankle), Sammy Silvera (foot) and Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Blackburn host Middlesbrough at Ewood Park on Saturday 21 March at 12:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Blackburn have lost just one of their last five league meetings against Middlesbrough (W2, D2, L1).
- Middlesbrough have claimed seven points in their last six visits to Blackburn (W2, D1, L3)
- Two of Blackburn’s last three home games ended in a 2-1 result for both teams apiece, whilst Boro won their recent clash at Ewood Park by 2-0 result in April 2025.
- Blackburn have claimed one win in their last five matches (W1, D1, L3).
- David Strelec has scored in both of Middlesbrough’s last two away matches (W2).
Prediction
Having needed two late goals after a red card for Millwall’s Zak Sturge to get the comeback win, Blackburn now need to build on that result and dominant attacking display if want to try and pull a gap on their relegation rivals going into the international break.
Middlesbrough meanwhile continued to lack their usual attacking spark at home amidst some late-game mismanagement to concede from a late corner, but I do expect them to bounce back given their away performances in the past month although Hackney’s midfield presence will be missed.
Blackburn therefore need to pounce early if there are any fragility in Boro’s midfield as they adapt to playing without Hackney, otherwise I can see Boro winning this if they can bring their clinical away spark but Blackburn should really give them a good test.
Prediction: Blackburn 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: Blackburn 0-0 Middlesbrough