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

Playoff-chasing Blackburn Rovers face a visit from relegation-threatened Stoke City at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.

Blackburn find themselves eighth in the Championship table, just five points adrift of the top six, while Stoke are down in 19th, only three points clear of the drop.

Match preview

© Reuters

Blackburn are on a strong run of form, winning four and losing just one of their last eight Championship games and going unbeaten in their last three.

Tony Mowbray's side endured a difficult start to the campaign, winning just four of their first 14 league outings between August and October.

However, they have lost just four of their subsequent 20 Championship fixtures, winning 10 and surging up the table to within touching distance of the playoffs.

Blackburn will hope that a contest against a patchy Stoke side - who they already beat 2-1 away from home in the reverse fixture earlier this season - can be a good opportunity to extend their unbeaten run.

Stoke suffered from a nightmare start to the season, going 10 league games without a win at the start of the campaign and finding themselves mired at the bottom of the table.

However, they have improved since, picking up just enough points to lift themselves out of the relegation zone, but they are far from safe.

The turn of the year saw the Potters go four games unbeaten, but three losses from their subsequent five outings mean that Michael O'Neill's side are just three points ahead of 22nd-placed Wigan Athletic.

A 2-0 home win over Cardiff City in their last outing handed them that cushion, courtesy of a Callum Paterson own-goal and a Joe Allen strike, something the Potters will hope to build on.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: WDLWWD

Stoke City Championship form: WLWLLW

Team News

© Reuters

Blackburn boss Mowbray has a hefty injury list to deal with ahead of the Potters' visit to Ewood Park.

Derrick Williams, Joe Rankin-Costello, Joe Rothwell, Bradley Lyons and Corry Evans are all still unavailable for the contest as they recover from their respective problems.

Meanwhile, Lewis Holtby, Bradley Dack and Joe Grayson are all out for the rest of the season with serious injuries.

On the other hand, Stoke manager O'Neill has a significantly shorter list of unavailable players to contend with.

James McClean and Stephen Ward are both sidelined, while Thibaud Verlinden will not play again this season.

Club captain Ryan Shawcross is closing in on a return from his lengthy absence but is not ready yet.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup: Walton; Buckley, Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bell; Travis, Downing, Johnson; Samuel, Armstrong

Stoke City possible starting lineup: Butland; Smith, Batth, Chester, Martins Indi; Thompson; Ince, Allen, Clucas, Powell; Campbell

© Sports Mole / SM

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Stoke City

Blackburn are in fine form, are at home and should have too much for a Stoke side that struggle on the road, even with their present injury crisis.