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

Blackburn Rovers play host to Huddersfield Town on Saturday knowing that a victory is imperative to kick-start their campaign.

At a time when Rovers sit in 18th position in the Championship standings, Huddersfield make the trip to Ewood Park in 21st place.

Match preview

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If Blackburn's hierarchy had made the decision to part ways with Jon Dahl Tomasson, the Dane could have few complaints given his side's recent form.

Six defeats have been posted in nine games, with one of their two victories being a comeback 5-2 win against Cambridge United in the FA Cup.

Tomasson would have hoped that the manner of the comeback in that tie would have boded well for the following trip to West Bromwich Albion in the league.

Instead, Rovers succumbed to a tame 4-1 defeat at The Hawthorns, with a total of 20 goals having now been conceded in just seven fixtures.

With three home fixtures to come in all competitions, Tomasson has the chance to instigate a turnaround, but it may be last chance saloon with Blackburn now eight points adrift of the playoffs.

Huddersfield are simply focused on moving away from the relegation zone at this stage with just two wins coming from their last 15 league games.

Darren Moore's side remain three points clear of the bottom three, helped by a 1-1 draw against Plymouth Argyle last weekend in a fixture where they came from behind to earn a share of the spoils.

Nevertheless, Moore is aware that he remains under pressure to keep his job at the John Smith's Stadium, the owners having to balance their ambitions for the future with wanting to ensure that they do not overly disrupt matters on the pitch.

With games against relegation rivals Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday to follow this contest, avoiding defeat on Saturday would hand Huddersfield another much-needed boost.

Team News

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Tomasson must decide whether to risk Sam Gallagher from the start after he came through 28 minutes on his first outing since September last weekend.

Consideration will also be given to handing a first start to loanee Yasin Ayari, although Sammie Szmodics will be given priority should he have recovered from illness.

Meanwhile, Moore may see no reason to make any alterations to his Huddersfield XI after earning a point last time out.

As many as 13 players were injured ahead of the Plymouth game and are unlikely to be rushed back into the starting lineup here.

Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Brahima Diarra are most likely to be considered for recalls in defence and midfield respectively.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup: Wahlstedt; Carter, Hyam, S. Wharton, Brittain; A. Wharton, Tronstad; Moran, Szmodics, Sigurdsson; Gallagher

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup: Nicholls; Lees, Helik, Spencer; Kasumu, Matos, Hogg, Rudoni, Jackson; Koroma, Thomas

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Huddersfield Town

This has all the making of being a pivotal game in each side's season, Tomasson aware of the potential consequences if his side suffer another defeat. However, we are backing Rovers to net a dramatic victory against a side that may be content with a share of the spoils from this contest.

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