Blackburn vs Sunderland prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-10-17 19:00.
An unpredictable Blackburn Rovers made it ten Championship games of alternating win-loss results (W5, L5), after a 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough last time out lifted them to fifth in the standings. They now prepare for a first meeting against Sunderland since March 2012, and the first in England’s second-tier for more than 30 years, though Blackburn will be without captain Lewis Travis who picked up his fifth yellow card against Middlesbrough.
That leaves coach Jon Dahl Tomasson weighing up alternatives as his side look to post consecutive league triumphs for the first time since starting the campaign with three wins. At least they are at the best possible venue as Ewood Park has been something of a fortress, with Rovers boasting one of the best home Championship records this campaign (W5, L2), bookended by three straight wins.
It won’t be easy against an upbeat Sunderland who secured their first victory in five games (D3, L1), after staging a second-half comeback in last weekend’s 2-1 triumph over Wigan which propelled them into the top half. The Black Cats are now looking to post consecutive wins for the first time this season, while coach Tony Mowbray returns to his old stomping ground for an “emotional” reunion.
Mowbray will be keen to extend his unbeaten record against Rovers (W2, D2) although the last of those matches was played nearly a decade ago. In more recent times, his current Sunderland side have held their own on the road this Championship campaign (W3, D1, L3) but one point from their last two trips could present a real danger to Mowbray’s record.
Players to watch: Sam Gallagher scored Blackburn’s latest winner, and has seen his previous 15 Championship goals help his side go unbeaten (W11, D4). Looking to spoil that run could be Patrick Roberts, who scored a brace in Sunderland’s last away win, and he will now be gunning for a personal-first victory against Rovers (L3).
Hot stat: Only one of Blackburn’s last 15 Championship games has seen more than one first-half goal.