Blackburn vs Middlesbrough predictions: Boro can barge back into the top six
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- Blackburn have lost nine of their last 13 Championship games
- Middlesbrough have won four of their last six league matches
- Recommended Bet: Back Middlesbrough to win
Blackburn will bid to give their flagging play-off prospects a boost at home to Middlesbrough, who enter Friday night’s contest at Ewood Park outside the top six on goal difference.
Rovers have suffered four straight defeats under Valerian Ismael, who has secured only one point in the five matches he has overseen since being named permanent successor to John Eustace.
Blackburn have slipped from fifth to 11th since Eustace left to take the Derby job, with Boro among the clubs to benefit from their slide.
Michael Carrick’s men lost five games in a row between January and February, but now appear to be back on track after taking 13 points from the last 18 on offer.
Team news
Blackburn lost left-sided midfielder Owen Beck and right-back Hayden Carter to hamstring and calf injuries respectively in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
Neither player will be able to feature against Boro as they join an injury list that already includes winger Augustus Kargbo (hamstring), striker Emmanuel Dennis (hamstring), forward Harry Leonard (leg), defender Scott Wharton (knee), forward Andreas Weimann (knee) and defender Callum Brittain (calf).
Ryan Hedges and Joe Rankin-Costello look set to step into the side with Danny Batth again likely to play alongside Dominic Hyam in central defence after coming through 90 minutes of his comeback game unscathed last weekend.
As for Boro, Carrick could name an unchanged team for the fourth game in a row after his side avoided picking up any new injuries in their 2-1 win over Oxford on Saturday.
He may not be able to resist the temptation to recall defender Rav van den Berg or midfielder Riley McGree, who are pushing for recalls after spells on the sidelines with injuries.
Van den Berg’s return means Boro have a fit centre-back again after operating for the last few weeks with left-back Neto Borges alongside midfielder Jonny Howson in central defence.
Dael Fry is still sidelined, as are long-term injury casualties Darragh Lenihan and Alex Bangura.
The stats
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Blackburn have beaten Boro twice already this season, recording a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium in the FA Cup in January two months after they claimed all three points by the same score on Teesside.
Middlesbrough have not scored against Blackburn for over 300 minutes, with Rovers earning a 0-0 draw in the corresponding fixture last season.
Republic of Ireland international Finn Azaz has been excellent for Boro this season, registering an impressive 10 goals and 12 assists in the Championship.
Tommy Conway has netted three goals in his four previous Championship appearances against Blackburn, including two for Bristol City in April last season.
Prediction
Blackburn fans are unhappy with the running of the club and will make their voices heard during the game, which is unlikely to have a galvanising effect on the team.
Ismael has not endeared himself to the Rovers faithful with some predictable tactics, confused selections and odd substitutions.
The team’s confidence has been drained by a sequence of poor results and the amount of hamstring injuries suffered by key players has become a concern.
This clash is a great opportunity for Boro to move back into the top six and Carrick’s team look good enough to grab it with both hands.
The team spirit that appeared lost in February has returned with players like Neto Borges and Hayden Hackney to the fore in leadership roles.
Azaz has been creating chances and Conway has been finishing them off, which gives them a huge edge over a Rovers side who look to have lost their way in attack.
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