Blackburn vs Cardiff prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-10-20 14:00.
Blackburn Rovers went into the international break off the back of a thumping 4-0 win over Queens Park Rangers that halted a four-game losing run in the Championship. That result made head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson “extremely thrilled with the result and performance” as the Lancashire outfit moved to within five points of the play-off places ahead of this round of fixtures.
The hosts need to build on that momentum however, as they haven’t won consecutive league matches this season, while they also need to put an end to a two-game losing streak in the second tier at Ewood Park. The spectre of losing three in a row there in the league for the first time since March 2019 hangs over them, but there’s a longer record on the line as well, as Rovers haven’t been defeated at home by Cardiff since December 2012 (W3, D5 since), scoring five in two of their last three such H2H outings.
That said, Cardiff are likely to be a much more confident side this time round, currently sitting just one point off the play-off spots. It could have been even better if they hadn’t dropped points against Watford (D 1-1) in their previous encounter despite scoring first, a result which followed a 2-0 loss at Middlesbrough. Manager Erol Bulut didn’t mince his words when he told his squad that if they don’t work, “everything will come back to where it was once again” as the Welsh giants attempt to rediscover the form that saw them earn four straight wins in the second half of September.
The outlook is grim in that regard if their away form is anything to go by, as the visitors have lost three of their last four Championship games on the road (W1). The last six away league goals that the Bluebirds have conceded came in the second half, so Bulut will no doubt be focusing on getting his half-time pep talk right on this trip.
Players to watch: Sammie Szmodics withdrew from the Republic of Ireland squad in the break due to personal reasons, giving him ample time to recharge his batteries after contributing to nine league goals already this campaign for Blackburn (G7, A2). Looking to outdo him could be compatriot Mark McGuinness, who scored Cardiff’s last goal and will be looking to arrest a H2H run of three successive defeats for his team at Blackburn.
Hot stat: Only matches involving Plymouth Argyle have averaged more corners per Championship game this season than Blackburn's (13.5).