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

Brentford and Blackburn Rovers square off in the Championship on Saturday afternoon having both won their last three league matches.

While the visitors have moved into ninth position in the standings, the Bees are in sixth place after extending their unbeaten record to eight games.

Match preview

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While Ivan Toney has proven to be the ideal replacement for Ollie Watkins, Brentford have not lived up to expectations this season as far as goals scored are concerned.

Nevertheless, Thomas Frank will now be delighted with the development of a side which is now winning games by narrow scorelines on a regular basis, shaking off their inconsistency from the early weeks.

Sixteen points have been recorded from eight matches since the capitulation at Stoke City, a run which has seen Brentford concede just three goals.

Although the transformation has not taken the Bees higher than sixth spot at this stage, they now only sit two points adrift of teams who are struggling to string together wins above them.

Frank's toughest task will be keeping him side focused on the present, although facing another of the in-form teams in the division will ensure that complacency is not a factor this weekend.

Despite claiming 14 points from their most recent half a dozen outings, Blackburn still remain two points adrift of the playoff places.

A poor start to the campaign came as a disappointment after last season's gradual improvements, but it has arguably strengthened the character of a club who continue to be regarded as a one-man team.

Adam Armstrong has had a hand in over half of Blackburn's 29 league goals this season and he deserves recognition for helping keep Rovers on course to challenge for promotion.

Like with Brentford, though, conceding fewer goals at the back is what has turned the club into dark horses for the title, and a fourth triumph in succession would result in the teams above them taking note.

Brentford Championship form: DDDWWW

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: DWDWWW

Team News

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The short turnaround will likely lead to Mowbray making alterations to his Blackburn XI.

In a bid to tighten things up in midfield, Joe Rothwell could replace Harvey Elliott, while Scott Wharton may be recalled if he is deemed to have recovered from a head injury.

Frank experimented with Tariqe Fosu-Henry at right-back against Rotherham United, and the winger could continue in that role at the weekend.

Barring any late fitness issues, changes are likely to be kept to a minimum with Emiliano Marcondes, Sergi Canos and Saman Ghoddos in line to remain on the substitutes' bench.

Brentford possible starting lineup: Raya; Fosu-Henry, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry; Janelt, Jansen, Dasilva; Forss, Toney, Mbuemo

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup: Kaminski; Nyambe, Lenihan, Wharton, Bell; Rothwell, Johnson, Holtby; Gallagher, Armstrong, Brereton

We say: Brentford 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

With maximum points having been recorded from their last three outings, something has to give at the weekend. We feel that Blackburn will play with far more freedom in a bid to continue their recent run, but the home side could find a balance between resolve at one end and quality at the other to prevail by a narrow margin.

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