Blackburn Vs West Brom

In search of their sixth consecutive home victory in the Championship, Blackburn Rovers are set to host fellow promotion contenders West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park on Wednesday night. Both sides are aiming to consolidate their positions in the upper reaches of the table, but their recent form tells contrasting stories. Blackburn comes off the back of a hard-fought win, while West Brom continues to grapple with a disappointing run that has seen them drop vital points.

Blackburn’s Recent Resurgence

Blackburn Rovers, under the guidance of John Eustace, returned to winning ways last Saturday after suffering back-to-back defeats prior to the international break. Their losses against Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle, the latter fighting against relegation, had momentarily slowed their momentum. However, the home encounter with Swansea City offered an opportunity to bounce back, and Blackburn capitalized.

The match started with Blackburn displaying their attacking intent early on, with midfielder Tyrhys Dolan opening the scoring. His quick strike set the tone for a match that saw Rovers take an early lead and then shift to a more defensive stance to preserve their advantage. Swansea, despite controlling nearly 70% of possession, could not break through Blackburn's resolute defense, which held firm to secure a clean sheet. It was a textbook example of a team winning ugly—showing resilience when under pressure but doing just enough to claim all three points.

This victory propelled Blackburn into sixth place on the Championship table after 10 matches. They now find themselves four points adrift of league leaders Sunderland, and two points ahead of seventh-placed Norwich City. Norwich has been in impressive form, going five games unbeaten, adding extra pressure on Blackburn to maintain their standing.

Much of Blackburn’s early-season success can be attributed to their remarkable home form. Ewood Park has become a fortress, with Rovers claiming five straight league wins on their home turf, a feat they last achieved during their iconic 1994-95 Premier League-winning campaign under Kenny Dalglish. While it’s early to draw any direct comparisons to that golden era, their home performances have certainly provided fans with renewed hope of a successful season ahead.

The departure of last season’s Golden Boot winner Sammie Szmodics, who joined Premier League outfit Ipswich Town in the summer, left a significant gap in Blackburn's attacking lineup. Szmodics’ clinical finishing and influence were key components of the team last season. However, Blackburn has managed to fill this void by relying on fresh faces and emerging talent. One such player is Japanese forward Yuki Ohashi, who has netted four goals in 10 Championship appearances this season. His dynamic presence in the attacking third has been pivotal in Blackburn's efforts to maintain their attacking threat.

West Brom’s Stuttering Form

In contrast to Blackburn’s home success, West Bromwich Albion comes into this fixture with a noticeable dip in form. After a promising run that saw them secure four consecutive Championship wins by late September, Carlos Corberan’s men have struggled in recent weeks. They are currently in the midst of a four-game winless streak, a run of poor results that has hampered their push for promotion. As a result, West Brom has slid from first to fifth in the standings over the past month, and they now find themselves level on points with Blackburn heading into this clash.

West Brom’s most recent outing, a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium, typified their current frustrations. Karlan Grant's first-half goal looked to have set them on course for a much-needed victory, but a last-gasp equalizer in the 92nd minute from substitute Dane Scarlett denied the Baggies all three points. It was a bitter pill to swallow, as the late goal extended their winless run and raised further questions about their ability to close out games, a problem that has plagued them throughout the season.

Despite their recent struggles, West Brom can take some solace in their away form this season. In stark contrast to the past two campaigns, where their away record left much to be desired, they have been solid on the road in 2024-25. To date, Albion has collected 10 points from five matches away from The Hawthorns, giving them the best away record in the Championship ahead of their trip to Lancashire. This newfound resilience on their travels will be crucial if they are to reverse their fortunes and keep pace with the promotion race.

However, West Brom's recent history at Ewood Park does not make for pleasant reading. Each of the last three matches between the two sides at Blackburn's home ground has ended in a 2-1 scoreline, with Rovers emerging victorious in the most recent pair of encounters. This includes a triumph on the opening day of last season, when Blackburn laid down an early marker with a win against their West Midlands counterparts.

Key Players to Watch

For Blackburn, the spotlight will be on Yuki Ohashi, who has quickly become a fan favorite. The Japanese forward has brought an added dimension to Blackburn's attack, with his pace, intelligent movement, and ability to link up with midfielders like Tyrhys Dolan and Jake Garrett. Ohashi’s goal-scoring exploits have helped fill the void left by Szmodics, and his performances will be key to unlocking West Brom’s defense.

In midfield, John Buckley has been another standout performer. His versatility allows Eustace to deploy him in various roles, and his ability to break up opposition play while initiating attacks has made him an indispensable part of the team. Alongside him, Lewis Travis continues to provide leadership and tenacity in the middle of the park, giving Blackburn a solid spine to build upon.

Defensively, Blackburn will be reliant on Hayden Carter and Dominic Hyam to deal with West Brom's physical forwards. Both center-backs have been crucial in helping the team maintain their strong home record, and they will need to be at their best to keep West Brom at bay.

West Brom, on the other hand, will look to Karlan Grant to continue his goal-scoring form. Grant, a proven Championship striker, has been a consistent source of goals for the Baggies this season, and his pace and power make him a constant threat to opposition defenses. If West Brom is to break their winless streak, they will need Grant to be firing on all cylinders.

Another key figure for West Brom is John Swift, whose creativity in midfield has been crucial in linking the play between the defense and attack. Swift’s vision and ability to pick out forward runners have made him one of the most dangerous playmakers in the division, and Blackburn will need to devise a plan to limit his influence.

At the back, Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley form a strong defensive partnership for West Brom. Ajayi, with his aerial dominance and physical presence, will be tasked with nullifying the threat posed by Ohashi and Blackburn’s other forwards. Bartley, on the other hand, brings experience and leadership to the Baggies' backline, making him a crucial figure in their defensive setup.

Tactical Battle

Wednesday night’s encounter promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between two sides with differing strengths. Blackburn, with their formidable home form, will likely look to start the match on the front foot, pressing West Brom high up the pitch and using the wide areas to stretch the opposition defense. Their ability to maintain defensive solidity, even when conceding possession, will be crucial in stifling West Brom’s creative outlets.

West Brom, meanwhile, will aim to exploit their strong away form by staying compact and hitting Blackburn on the counterattack. With pacey forwards like Grant and Swift leading the charge, they have the tools to hurt Blackburn if given space to operate. Corberan may also instruct his side to target set pieces, where West Brom has been particularly dangerous this season, scoring a number of goals from corners and free kicks.

Prediction and Conclusion

Both teams come into this match with much at stake. For Blackburn, a sixth straight home win would reinforce their promotion credentials and keep them within touching distance of the league leaders. For West Brom, this fixture offers an opportunity to arrest their recent slide and re-establish themselves as serious contenders for automatic promotion.

Given Blackburn's imperious form at Ewood Park and West Brom’s recent struggles, the home side will likely enter the match as slight favorites. However, West Brom’s ability to perform on the road cannot be underestimated, and their motivation to end their winless streak could see them put up a strong fight.

In what promises to be a closely contested battle, the outcome may be decided by which team can better capitalize on key moments in the match. If Blackburn can get an early goal and force West Brom to chase the game, they could well secure another vital three points. However, if West Brom manages to frustrate Blackburn and strike on the counter, a draw or even an away win is not out of the question.