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Blackburn logo
Championship | Gameweek 26
Jan 4, 2025 at 12.30pm UK
Ewood Park (Blackburn, Lancashire)
Burnley logo

Blackburn
0 - 1
Burnley


Batth (31'), Hyam (54')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Flemming (60')
Laurent (41'), Cullen (87')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Burnley will make the short trip to Ewood Park for Saturday's derby clash against arch-rivals Blackburn Rovers.

The Clarets are sitting in second place in the Championship table, while Blackburn are 10 points further back in fifth position.


Match preview

Yuki Ohashi of Blackburn Rovers during his side's Championship match against Hull City, on December 7, 2024© Imago

Blackburn may occupy a top-six spot in the second tier, but they have seen their automatic promotion hopes dented by a four-game winless run.

John Eustace's side have taken just two points from four matches since they recorded a 2-0 home victory over Luton Town on December 14.

Blackburn suffered narrow defeats against Millwall and Hull City, either side of a 2-2 draw against Sunderland, before they rescued a point in their New Year's Day clash against Leeds United.

Danny Batth scored a dramatic equaliser just moments after Leeds' Pascal Struijk looked to have won the game with an 88th-minute penalty.

After ending Leeds' nine-game winning home run, Rovers will now return to Ewood Park for Saturday's East Lancashire derby, with the visitors looking to claim their first win over Burnley since recording a 1-0 Premier League victory in March 2010.

However, that may be easier said than done due to Blackburn's recent inconsistency at home, with their last seven home league games producing two wins, two draws and three defeats.

Burnley manager Scott Parker applauds fans after his side's win against Watford, on December 21, 2024© Imago

Burnley will head into the weekend in second place after winning 13, drawing 10 and losing just two of their 25 league games this season.

The Clarets have put together a 12-game unbeaten run since losing to Millwall on November 3, although they have had to settle for goalless draws in their last two outings against Middlesbrough and Stoke City.

While they were unable to take maximum points from those two games, they will be pleased with the fact that they have now recorded three consecutive clean sheets, highlighting one of the key factors behind their promotion push.

In fact, Scott Parker's side have conceded just nine goals in 25 Championship matches this season, giving them the best defensive record in the division.

They will now be looking to produce a strong away performance on their travels, having recorded five clean sheets in their previous six road trips.

Burnley will hope that their resolute defence can lay the foundation for another strong derby performance, as they look to extend their 10-game unbeaten run in head-to-head meetings with Blackburn (W6, D4).

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

Burnley Championship form:


Team News

John Eustace manager of Blackburn Rovers on August 2, 2024© Imago

Blackburn are unable to call upon Lewis Travis and Arnor Sigurdsson due to hamstring and calf injuries respectively.

The pair are joined on the sidelines by Scott Wharton, Harry Pickering and Hayden Carter, who are ruled out with knee problems

Midfielder Todd Cantwell will have to be assessed after he missed the recent draw against Leeds through illness.

As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Enock Agyei, Jordan Beyer, Manuel Benson, Aaron Ramsey, Mike Tresor and Nathan Redmond.

Former Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri will start a three-match ban after being sent off for violent conduct in the latter stages of Wednesday's draw with Stoke.

Parker could make a number of changes to his starting lineup, with Bashir Humphreys, Josh Laurent and Zian Flemming all pushing for recalls.


Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Brittain, Hyman, Batth, Beck; Tronstad, Baker; Cozier-Duberry, Hedges, Dolan; Ohashi

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys; Cullen, Laurent; Sarmiento, Brownhill, Anthony; Flemming


SM words green background

We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Burnley

Burnley have proven to be a tough team to beat, having avoided defeat in each of their last 12 Championship matches.

We think that they will continue that run by claiming a narrow victory in Saturday's derby, especially as they have won each of their last four away matches against Rovers.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Written by
Ben Sully

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How you voted: Blackburn vs Burnley

Blackburn Rovers
31.0%
Draw
15.5%
Burnley
53.5%
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland25138438221647
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Millwall257992423130
14Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
15Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
16Queens Park RangersQPR2561182733-629
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2574142642-1625
21Portsmouth2358103040-1023
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920


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