Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough – prediction, team news, lineups

Promotion-chasing Middlesbrough will journey to Ewood Park for Saturday’s Championship conflict with relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

Boro head into the lunchtime kick-off in second place within the Championship table, whereas Rovers are down in nineteenth place.

Match preview

Blackburn are battling with Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United and Leicester City to increase their eight-12 months keep within the Championship. 

Michael O’Neill’s facet not too long ago boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 away win over 10-man Millwall, bringing an finish to their 4-recreation winless run.

After falling behind inside the primary 10 minutes of the second interval, Blackburn took full benefit of Zak Sturge’s 57th-minute pink card to stage a dramatic turnaround due to a late Mathias Jorgensen brace.

As a results of their second win in 4 away video games, Blackburn have moved three factors away from the drop zone with eight matches left to play within the 2025-26 Championship season.

Rovers are actually getting ready for a tough dwelling fixture in opposition to Middlesbrough, particularly as they at the moment have the league’s second-worst dwelling document with 18 factors from 19 video games at Ewood Park.

They at the very least averted defeat in three of their final 4 dwelling league video games (W2, D1), together with a dramatic 1-1 draw in opposition to Portsmouth of their most up-to-date outing at Ewood Park, which got here courtesy of Hayden Carter’s stoppage-time equaliser.

© Imago / Focus Images

In distinction to Blackburn, Middlesbrough are preventing on the prime finish of the Championship desk, bidding to finish their 9-12 months look forward to Premier League soccer.

While they could be sitting within the prime two, their promotion bid has misplaced momentum with simply two wins from their final seven matches (D3, L2).

In truth, they’ve mustered only one level from their earlier two outings, dropping 1-0 at dwelling to Charlton Athletic earlier than being denied a slender win in final Saturday’s meeting with Bristol City on the Riverside Stadium.

Leo Castledine thought he had put Boro on target for victory together with his first Championship objective, however Adam Randell’s 96th-minute winner ensured the spoils had been shared, leaving Kim Hellberg’s facet two factors above Ipswich and Millwall within the race for promotion. 

Having now didn’t win 4 dwelling video games in a row, Middlesbrough could also be trying ahead to heading on their travels, particularly as they’ve gained 5 of their earlier six highway journeys. 

Boro head into the competition with the prospect to say consecutive away wins over Blackburn for the primary time because the Nineteen Eighties after profitable 2-0 on their most up-to-date go to to Ewood Park in April 2025. 

Blackburn Rovers Championship kind:

W L L D L W 

Middlesbrough Championship kind:

D D W W L D

Team News

© Imago / Action Plus

Blackburn will likely be with out Aynsley Pears, Augustus Kargbo, Lewis Miller, Sondre Tronstad, Ryan Hedges and Andri Gudjohnsen. 

Defender Hayden Carter is a significant doubt for the house fixture after he was pressured off within the first half in opposition to Millwall with a hamstring concern.

Tom Atcheson might begin within the again three if Carter is unable to function, whereas Jorgensen can also be in rivalry to make the beginning lineup after coming off the bench to internet a brace final weekend.

As for Middlesbrough, they’re prone to be with out the companies of Alfie Jones, Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan and Sammy Silvera.

Defender Dael Fry is hoping to return from a two-match harm absence in time for the journey to Ewood Park.

Star man Hayden Hackney should be assessed after being pressured off within the latest draw with Bristol City.

Blackburn Rovers attainable beginning lineup:

Toth; Atcheson, McLoughlin, Cashin; Alebiosu, Gardner-Hickman, Forshaw, Ribeiro; Morishita, Cantwell; Jorgensen

Middlesbrough attainable beginning lineup:

Brynn; Brittain, Ayling, Malanda, Targett; Whittaker, Browne, Morris, McGree, Castledine; Strelec

We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough have gained 5 of their final six away video games, and given Blackburn’s poor document at Ewood Park this season, we predict the guests will declare a slender victory in Saturday’s fixture to help their promotion push.

For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.