Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

Blackburn Rovers will aim to continue their perfect start to the Championship season on Sunday, when they entertain West Bromwich Albion.

The hosts are the only side to win both of their opening two matches in England's second tier, while Steve Bruce's men sit on two points after consecutive draws.

Match preview

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The beginning of the 2022-23 season acted as the start of a new era for Blackburn Rovers, with Jon Dahl Tomasson now at the helm after the departure of long-standing manager Tony Mowbray.

After an encouraging pre-season, in which draws with Dundee and Celtic were followed by victories and clean sheets against Hartlepool United and Lincoln City, the Lancashire outfit began the league campaign with a home contest against Queens Park Rangers.

They would come away with all three points as Lewis Travis hit the only goal of the game, before enjoying a successful trip to Swansea City, as Travis was again on the scoresheet alongside Sammie Szmodics and Ben Brereton Diaz in a 3-0 triumph.

Tomasson's men would make it three wins from three competitive games last time out, as they thrashed Hartlepool United 4-0 in the EFL Cup first round on Wednesday, with Scott Wharton, Bradley Dack, Tyrhys Dolan and Dilan Markanday all finding the net.

Already sitting as the only Championship side with a perfect record after two games, having picked up six points, found the net four times and not conceded, the Rovers will look to continue building and add a third notch to their wins column on home turf at the weekend.

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West Bromwich Albion will travel in search of a first win of their own in the Championship this season, as they aim to push for promotion back to the top flight at the second time of asking after a somewhat disappointing 10th-placed finish last year.

Steve Bruce's side began the new season with a trip to Middlesbrough, and after falling behind to Isaiah Jones's early opener, they were able to leave with a point as John Swift netted an equaliser soon after half time.

The Baggies then faced another tough test at home to Watford and would again draw 1-1, as Karlan Grant levelled the scores on the stroke of the interval after Ismaila Sarr's long-range opener, and David Button denied Sarr from the penalty spot in the second half to ensure the spoils were shared.

Bruce's men would then pick up a first competitive victory of the season on Thursday, as Grant was again on the scoresheet at the Hawthorns, hitting the only goal as they beat Sheffield United 1-0 in an EFL Cup first-round tie.

Hoping to take confidence from that triumph but with their league schedule not getting any easier, the Midlands side will aim to be the first team to take points off Blackburn this season when they travel to Ewood Park on Sunday.

Team News

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Blackburn Rovers made plenty of changes for their cup tie with Hartlepool, and key men like Thomas Kaminski, Daniel Ayala, John Buckley and captain Lewis Travis will return from the outset at the weekend.

After an injury-stricken season last time around, in which he managed just nine league appearances, Bradley Dack was able to feature from the start on Wednesday, and he will be pushing to again line up in Sunday's game after getting on the scoresheet, while Tyrhys Dolan also found the net and laid his claim for a place.

They face plenty of competition, though, with Sammie Szmodics, Sam Gallagher and Ryan Hedges all playing important roles in the opening two league games, while Ben Brereton Diaz is bound to feature, having opened his account for the season after scoring 21 goals in 36 Championship appearances last term.

Bruce also opted to rest some important players in midweek, and the likes of Semi Ajayi, Conor Townsend and new arrivals John Swift and Jed Wallace are set to return to the starting XI.

Wallace and Swift combined for the equaliser away at Middlesbrough, and they will operate behind lone striker Karlan Grant, who has found the net in consecutive games, while fellow forward Daryl Dike remains out of action through injury.

Turkish midfielder Okay Yokuslu, who missed the first two games through injury, made a first start of the season on Thursday, and he and Alex Mowatt will both be pushing to stay in the XI, with Jayson Molumby and Jake Livermore having been preferred in the league thus far.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Brittain, Ayala, Wharton, Pickering; Travis, Buckley; Szmodics, Dack, Brereton Diaz; Gallagher

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Button; Furlong, Ajayi, O'Shea, Townsend; Yokuslu, Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant

We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

While West Brom should pose a tough test, Blackburn look full of confidence under Tomasson, and we back them to pick up another impressive three-point haul at the weekend with home advantage.

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