Blackburn vs Norwich prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-04-06 14:00.
Blackburn Rovers suffered a surprise 1-0 away defeat at Birmingham City last time out, subsequently dropping them to sixth in the Championship table. Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson was reasoned in his analysis afterwards, stating that it’s “normal” to hit bumps in the road at this stage of the season. His serenity was helped by the fact Rovers still boast a four-point gap to the chasing pack coming into this round, with opponents Norwich City one of a cluster of sides aiming to catch them.
You could argue Tomasson’s side are falling out of form at an inopportune time given they’ve lost two of their last three league matches, having not tasted defeat in any of the eight games prior (W4, D4). Admittedly, each of those defeats came on the road, while at home the Lancashire side remain a robust force on the back of a six-match unbeaten league run (W5, D1) at Ewood Park, conceding just one goal in the process.
Only rivals and runaway leaders Burnley have picked up more points at home than Blackburn’s 40 this term, adding to the daunting nature of the task facing Norwich City. When looking ahead to this clash, Canaries defender Ben Gibson was blunt in his assessment following last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at home to Sheffield United, asserting that “time is running out and we've got to find form now.” Such comments are understandable when you note Norwich have not won any of their last four league games (D2, L2), alarmingly managing just a single goal in the process.
As they bid to blow this play-off race wide open, Norwich should draw confidence from their record of winning on each of their last four visits to Ewood Park. They’d welcome extending that record to a fifth victory, but just two wins from ten fixtures (D1, L7) against sides currently occupying the top six (both against Millwall) highlights exactly how much they’ve struggled against league rivals this season.
Key battle: Blackburn’s Ben Brereton Diaz scored in three successive games before the international break and as of the end of the last gameweek there were only five players who have attempted more shots on target (35). He’ll face Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn who has the second-highest Championship save percentage coming into the round (75.6).
Hot stat: No Championship side has conceded more goals from outside the box this season than Blackburn (13).