Plymouth vs Blackburn prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-09-01 14:00.
After a 3-1 win against Huddersfield Town on opening day perhaps raised expectations, Plymouth Argyle have been reminded of the stark realities of the Championship. A winless three game run has followed (D1, L2), with boss Steven Schumacher left “devastated” after Birmingham’s stoppage time winner denied his side what would’ve been a hard-earned point in the Midlands last weekend as they fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Returning to Home Park should give Plymouth a chance to offset that disappointment, with only high-flying Southampton and top-flight Crystal Palace beating them on home turf across their last seven outings (W5). The visit of Blackburn Rovers promises to be another stern test, in what is a lesser-spotted fixture these days, with this only the second season in which the sides have shared a division since 1991/92!
Interestingly, despite attaining promotion from League One in 2017/18 the last time Blackburn and Plymouth plied trade in the same league, Rovers failed to beat the Pilgrims either home or away (D1, L1). They’ll hope there’s no repeat of that this season, as Blackburn bid to challenge the promotion places amidst boss Jon Dahl Tomasson's plea for his young side to be “realistic” about their ambitions, but they’d be forgiven for getting carried away after their 8-0 EFL Cup victory in midweek against Harrogate Town – the biggest ever away win in the club’s history!
A long trip to the south west rounds off three away games in under a week for Blackburn, who after their 1-0 Championship success at Watford last weekend, are bidding for back-to-back away league wins for the first time since October 2022. In the midst of a five-match unbeaten travelling run in Championship action (W2, D3), you wouldn’t rule it out, but it remains to be seen what impact three away games in six days has on Tomasson’s relatively small squad.
Players to watch: Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie is enjoying Championship life, with three goals from his four league appearances this season, each of which arrived after half-time. Battling him for the second-half limelight, Blackburn’s Ryan Hedges’ last three goals have served as the game’s last, with all three arriving beyond the 70th minute.
Hot stat: After four Championship rounds, Plymouth have conceded a league-high average of 9.75 corners per game.