Bristol City vs Blackburn prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-01-20 15:00.
Keen to avoid a repeat of their 3-0 capitulation against Birmingham earlier in the season, Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson masterminded a 4-2 victory against the Blues in the reverse fixture last weekend to soothe any relegation fears. Pearson hailed the positivity and physicality of their first Championship home win in three months, citing improved fitness levels as a reason for their upturn in form since Christmas (W1, D2, L1).
Following that up with an extra-time FA Cup win at Swansea during the week, another indication of Pearson’s proclaimed progress will be whether they can replicate their eye-catching 3-2 win away to Blackburn Rovers in early September, which still stands as the last time they were able to string together consecutive Championship wins. The Robins’ two-goal assault in the first half hour against Birmingham would have been especially pleasing, and it is a habit they could profit greatly from getting into after leading at half-time in seven of their eight league victories this season.
Blackburn were not considered a leading contender for promotion at the beginning of this season, but that will be of little comfort to manager Jon Dahl Tomasson after a humiliating 4-0 loss at relegation threatened Rotherham illustrated the inconsistency they too are plagued with amid no draws this league campaign (W14, L13). Despite chasing bitter rivals Burnley for automatic promotion prior to the World Cup break, Blackburn are increasingly in danger of falling out of the top six entirely after losing five of their last seven Championship matches (W2).
Their woes have been compounded by an extensive injury crisis that has left Tomasson ruling out any outgoing transfers during this window, insisting “at the moment no one goes out of the building. That’s very clear”. Only time will tell whether things will go from bad to worse at Ewood Park, but amidst rumours Ben Brereton DĂaz will be jetting off to Spain in the summer to sign for Villarreal, and after last round’s abomination, no bottom-half opposition can currently be taken for granted.
Players to watch: Antoine Semenyo appears to be rediscovering his goalscoring form from earlier in the season, recording Bristol’s first goal in each of his last three appearances. Tyrhys Dolan, on the other hand, was a second half goalscorer in Blackburn’s last away league win as well as in the previous H2H.
Hot stat: Just one of Bristol City’s 27 Championship games this season finished with a 1-0 scoreline.