Relegation-battling Blackburn Rovers host promotion-chasing Coventry City in a Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would lift Blackburn up to 18th in the table, whilst Coventry will wrap up promotion if they just avoid defeat.
Team News
Adam Forshaw is set to return for Blackburn after he was rested in their 3-0 midweek defeat at Southampton due to a calf injury.
Ryan Alebiosu (rib), Todd Cantwell (hip) and Sidnei Tavares (knock) face late fitness tests.
Lewis Miller (Achilles), Augustus Kargbo (thigh/quad), Andri Gudjohnsen (ankle), Hayden Carter, Matty Litherland, Scott Wharton (all hamstring), George Pratt (thigh), Axel Henriksson and Sondre Tronstad (both knee) remain absent.
Coventry have no fresh injury concerns to report after their goalless draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday, as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto remains absent with a rib injury which kept him out of that game.
When is Kick-Off?
Blackburn host Coventry on Friday 17 April at Ewood Park in a 8pm BST kick-off, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Blackburn are winless in their last 10 meetings against Coventry (D5, L5).
- Coventry are unbeaten in their last seven league visits to Blackburn (W2, D5).
- Blackburn have failed to score in their last five meetings against Coventry (D1, L4), across which they conceded eight goals in four matches whilst one of those five games ended in a 0-0 result in April 2024.
- Each of Blackburn’s last two matches at Ewood Park have ended in 0-0 draws against Middlesbrough and West Brom respectively.
- Haji Wright has contributed more league goal involvements than any other Coventry player this season, having produced 16 goals and one assist in 36 appearances.
Prediction
Having played out goalless draws in their last two home games, Blackburn seem to have found a bit of confidence at home but they face another tricky test after they were clinically beaten at Southampton, which will raise questions about their defensive ability although they’ve now played one more game than their rivals.
Coventry meanwhile can relax a bit given that they need just avoid defeat to wrap this up and given their away form at Blackburn, I really expect them to get promotion sealed at the second time of asking if they don’t underestimate Blackburn and are more clinical than were against Sheffield Wednesday.
As much as I can see Blackburn trying to put up a fight especially if Cantwell and Forshaw return, I just think that this is Coventry’s moment and should be a routine result.
Prediction: Blackburn 2-0 Coventry
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