Championship Gameweek 40
Apr 5, 2021 3.00pm
0
2
HT : 0 1
FT Ewood Park
  • Harvey Elliott 78' yellowcard
  • goal Philip Billing 29'
  • yellowcard Jefferson Lerma 50'
  • yellowcard Dominic Solanke 51'
  • goal Arnaut Danjuma 75'

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

Blackburn vs. Bournemouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Bournemouth will be looking to break back into the Championship playoff spots when they travel to Blackburn Rovers on Monday afternoon.

The Cherries made it back-to-back league wins with victory over Middlesbrough on Friday, while Blackburn's poor run continued with a 1-0 loss at bottom side Wycombe Wanderers.


Match preview

Bournemouth's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton a fortnight ago leaves them with just one target for the remaining seven weeks: promotion back to the Premier League.

Jonathan Woodgate's men have not been as consistent as they would have liked, but wins over Swansea City and Middlesbrough either side of the Southampton loss has them well placed.

With Barnsley and Reading, the two sides directly above them in the table, playing out a 1-1 draw on Friday, Bournemouth are three points off fifth place with a game in hand.

The Cherries' fate is very much in their own hands, then, and they will be seeking three wins in a row for only the second time this campaign when they travel to Blackburn.

However, having lost just one of their first 10 away league games this season, Bournemouth have now lost four of their last eight on the road.

It is that away form that could come back to haunt them, although Blackburn are winless in their last six home league games - their longest such run since October-December 2004.

Rovers' form both home and away makes for bad reading, in fact, as they have won just one of their last 13 games, losing eight of those.

The pressure is growing on Tony Mowbray following Friday's defeat to Wycombe, with Fred Onyedinma heading home the only goal of the game early in the second half.

Blackburn were top-six contenders at one stage, but they are now way down in 15th, potentially just four points above the dropzone if sides below them win their games in hand.

Mowbray's men face playoff-chasing Bournemouth and Cardiff City in their next two games, before a run of key fixtures against sides around them in the table.

Should this poor run continue much longer, Blackburn may well find themselves dragged into serious trouble in the final throes of the campaign.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • L

Bournemouth Championship form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

Bournemouth form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W


Team News

Blackburn's top scorer Adam Armstrong has been in and out of the side of late due to injury and missed the loss at Wycombe.

Mowbray has hinted that Armstrong may be back for Monday's game, which could lead to a slight reshuffle assuming Harvey Elliott and Sam Gallagher also start.

Joe Rankin-Costello was replaced before half time on good Friday, so Ryan Nyambe is in line to start at right-back.

As for Bournemouth, Jefferson Lerma returned to the starting lineup against Middlesbrough and will retain his place here, likely alongside Jack Wilshere once again.

Lewis Cook, David Brooks, Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas all remain sidelined, but Woodgate has plenty of other options to choose from.

Should the visitors wish to freshen things up, Shane Long and Ben Pearson are contenders to come into the XI.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Harwood-Bellis, Douglas; Rothwell, Trybull; Elliott, Holtby, Gallagher; Armstrong

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:

Begovic; Smith, Carter-Vickers, Cook, Rico; Wilshere, Lerma; Stanislas, Billing, Danjuma; Solanke


We say: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Bournemouth

Bournemouth have found some momentum in the league with back-to-back wins, albeit either side of a disappointing FA Cup exit, while Blackburn have won just once since January.

The Cherries have not lost a league game on Easter Monday since April 2009, meanwhile, winning four and drawing two, which is a run we can see them extending with victory here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


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POLL
Who will win Monday's Championship clash between Blackburn and Bournemouth?
Blackburn Rovers 13%
Draw 10%
Bournemouth 77%
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