MX23RW : Wednesday, January 1 19:01:07| >> :120:37634:37634:
[monks data]
Blackburn logo
Championship
Mar 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Leicester logo

1-1

Kilgallon (43')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Vardy (20')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Leicester City

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between playoff hopefuls Blackburn Rovers and runaway leaders Leicester City at Ewood Park.

It appears that no-one can stop Leicester City from winning the Championship title and cruising to automatic promotion to the Premier League this season.

The Foxes made it four wins on the bounce last weekend, overcoming a minor scare when they went behind to Blackpool to eventually win 3-1 - the fourth straight match in which they have scored three goals.

Despite Burnley's continued good form in second place, Leicester aren't giving the Clarets a sniff at the moment, and the seven-point gap they have at the top of the table looks to be impenetrable, particularly as the leaders have a game in hand.

Even if Nigel Pearson's side were to suffer an unlikely collapse, their place in the top flight next year is all but guaranteed with a 17-point gap separating them from third-placed Derby.

A more likely scenario than a loss in form is for Leicester to break the 100-point barrier. They are currently 20 points short with a possible 33 points still up for grabs. You wouldn't bet against them on current form.

Their unbeaten streak in the league now stretches back 16 matches all the way to early December, and continuing with the theme of impressive milestones, Leicester could be eyeing an unbeaten 2014 in the Championship.

If there has been a weak spot for the Foxes this season, it has been away from home, where they have lost four times. However, such has been their overall dominance that they still boast the best away record in the division.

That presents a daunting challenge for Blackburn, who know that anything less than a win would kill off their playoff hopes once and for all.

The prospect of them creeping into the top six is already a long shot with three teams better placed and eight points separating them from Nottingham Forest in sixth. However, Rovers do have a game in hand over the majority of the chasing pack, and a good spell of form could enable a late charge.

They will be pleased, then, that Jordan Rhodes appears to have found his shooting boots once again, netting a hat-trick against former club Huddersfield Town to end a barren run in front of goal.

That helped Blackburn to end a three-match losing streak, and they know that they cannot afford any more setbacks if they are to stand any chance of challenging for the playoffs.

Gary Bowyer's side will certainly need to improve on their last two appearances at Ewood Park, which saw them lose to Burnley and Bournemouth in succession. With the all-conquering Leicester coming to town, his side will need to be at their very best.

Scott Dann, Ben Marshall, Tom Cairney and Grant Hanley are all injury worries for the hosts, however, while Jason Lowe could come back into midfield for the match.

Recent form

Blackburn: DWLLLW

Leicester: DDWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Blackburn: Robinson; Kane, Kilgallon, Keane, Spurr; Dunn, Lowe, Evans, Conway; Gestede; Rhodes

Leicester: Schmeichel; De Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan, Schlupp; Knockaert, James, Drinkwater, Mahrez; Vardy, Hugent

Sports Mole says: 0-2


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer prior to kick-off against Man City in their FA Cup third round match on January 4, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


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