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Blackburn logo
Championship
Mar 17, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Brentford logo

2-3

Gestede (5'), Taylor (45')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Long (44'), Jota (52'), Gray (84')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Brentford

Sports Mole gazes ahead to the Championship match at Ewood Park on Tuesday as Blackburn Rovers look to keep their playoff hopes alive by beating Brentford.

If Blackburn Rovers are to stand any chance of making a late charge for the Championship's playoff places, victory over Brentford tomorrow night is essential.

Gary Bowyer's side have won three league games in a row to move within eight points of the Bees, who occupy the final top-six place with nine games of the season remaining.

Rovers are still in the FA Cup as well and with their quarter-final replay against Liverpool not for another three weeks, Bowyer could go all out in a game which is vital for any outside playoff hopes.

In recent weeks he has picked one of Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede in attack, but the pair could start together against a Brentford side who have kept just nine clean sheets this season.

Rumours linking Rhodes with a loan move away have quietened and following his brace in Saturday's 3-1 win at Charlton Athletic, the Scotland international has now scored six goals in his last six starts.

Rovers win at The Valley was an impressive one considering that Charlton had won their previous three games, but it came at a cost with Doneil Henry, Lee Williamson and Craig Conway suffering injuries.

Williamson is the most likely to shake off his groin problem, but Bowyer might have the pain eased by being able to recall Matthew Kilgallon and Marcus Olsson.

While Blackburn are flying in the league, Brentford are just about holding on to their place in the playoffs following a run of one win in four games.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to nine-man Cardiff City saw Mark Warburton's side fall seven points behind the pacesetting trio of Bournemouth, Watford and Middlesbrough and a playoff berth is now their only realistic way of getting promoted.

Both Cardiff goals would have been very avoidable from Warburton's point of view and the Bees have now made as many errors leading directly to a goal (9) as anyone else this season.

Despite the disappointing result, Warburton could go with the same XI that started against the Bluebirds. Alan Judge and Chris Long are the most likely to earn recalls.

Blackburn have picked up 22 out of a possible 24 points in their last eight home league games against Brentford, but the reverse went in the Bees' favour as they won 3-1 in mid-December.

Blackburn:

Form in Championship: DLDWWW
Form in all competitions: LDWDWW

Possible starting lineup: Steele; Henley, Kilgallon, Baptiste, Spurr; Taylor, Williamson, Cairney, Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes

Brentford:

Recent form: WWLWDL

Possible starting lineup: Button; Odubajo, Tarkowski, Dean, Bidwell; Douglas, Diagouraga; Jota, Pritchard, Dallas; Gray

Sports Mole says: 2-2


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Written by
Pascal Lemesre
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Chris Taylor of Blackburn celebrates after scoring the first goal of the game during the FA Cup Third Round match against Charlton Athletic on January 3, 2015
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


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