Blackburn vs Sunderland prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-09-19 18:45.
Blackburn Rovers returned from the international break by claiming a solid 2-1 home win against lowly Middlesbrough in their 5000th league match, a result that kept them in touch with the top-six after six matches (W3, D1, L2). Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men have amassed ten points, one more than at this stage a year ago, but they’ll certainly be looking to go one better this time around as last season ended in disappointment, missing out on the play-offs on goal difference to upcoming opponents Sunderland.
Exacting a piece of revenge could be on the mind of the Rovers players here, and perhaps that’ll help them sharpen up in front of goal after Tomasson bemoaned his side’s finishing after the Middlesbrough win. They may not need many goals here though, as Blackburn are unbeaten in each of the last four H2Hs at Ewood Park (W2, D2), with Sunderland failing to score in each of their last three visits.
Former Blackburn and current Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray will be keen to engineer an end to that winless streak for the visitors in this meeting. After their own impressive start, Sunderland sit a place above their hosts on goal difference heading into this midweek matchday after a dominant 3-1 away win over QPR at the weekend.
That victory came as their first in four attempts on the road in the Championship (D1, L2), a timely end to a poor run considering that Sunderland were superb away from home last year, with only the three sides who were promoted earning more points on their travels. Despite poor recent form on that front, the Black Cats have managed five clean sheets across their last eight away league outings, a streak which the visitors will hope to improve further upon here.
Players to watch: Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics has four goals in six Championship outings this season, whilst his side have never lost in the league when he’s been on the scoresheet (W5, D2). Sunderland’s Jack Clarke has had a similarly good start with three league goals which have all come as his team’s first strike.
Hot stat: Mowbray has won three of his last six league meetings with former sides (D1, L2), as many as in his 16 attempts prior (D8, L5).