Championship | Gameweek 23

Dec 26, 2024 at 3pm UK

Ewood Park (Blackburn, Lancashire)

Blackburn vs Sunderland

Match preview

Blackburn had 17 shots on target against Millwall, but were unable to create any real chances in front of goal until Mihailo Ivanovic's 96th-minute winner.

Boss John Eustace suggested his side were unlucky and pointed to the adverse weather conditions as a factor in their defeat, telling reporters: "I thought the way the boys defended overall was excellent and to concede in the last minute was disappointing. We also played some good football today - the conditions really made it difficult, but we still had two or three really good chances.

Eustace's side had been in excellent form until their latest defeat, having won their previous six games, although they had only scored once in four of those.

However, their defensive record during this period has been phenomenal, with five clean sheets in the five games prior to the Millwall clash.

The Riversiders' home form has been mixed, with the club winning their last two games at Ewood Park but losing two and drawing one of the previous three.

Opponents Sunderland conceded the first goal after 20 minutes against Norwich, but scored twice in the second half from set-pieces.

Manager Regis Le Bris hailed his players, suggesting the victory was down to individual quality rather than tactical instructions, telling reporters: "It's a balanced feeling because winning is very important and it's not always about tactics, sometimes it's a question of character. That is a good quality in our team.

Sunderland finished 16th in the Championship last season with 56 points from 44 games, but Le Bris's side are just two points behind second-placed Leeds United, who occupy the division's final automatic promotion spot.

The Black Cats are a tough side to beat, having lost just once in their last 15 games, while winning three and drawing one of their last four, scoring eight goals in the process.

It should be noted that the visitors' away form has not been as good, with three draws and one defeat in their last five away matches.

Recent Performance

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:WWWWWL

Sunderland Championship form:DLWDWW

Team News

The home side will be without midfielder Lewis Travis for six weeks after he suffered a hamstring injury against Millwall, and Eustace may opt for a back three of Sondre Trondstad and John Buckley in his absence.

Defenders Hayden Carter, Harry Pickering and Scott Wharton and goalkeeper Balazs Toth are all sidelined, so expect Aynsley Pears to be protected by a back four of Joe Rankin-Costello, Danny Batth, Dominic Hyam and Owen Beck.

Up front, Yuki Ohashi and Makhtar Gueye are likely to start in the absence of Arnor Sigurdsson and Zak Gilsenan.

Meanwhile, Sunderland will be without a number of players, including midfielders Alan Browne and Salis Abdul Samed, although Le Bris is likely to start regulars Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham regardless of their absences.

Centre-back Daniel Ballard is not expected to return to action until early January, while right-backs Jenson Seelt and Niall Huggins are also sidelined, meaning that Luke O'Nien, Chris Mepham, Leo Fuhr Hjelde and Dennis Cirkin could start in a back four.

The Black Cats are almost certain to start Patrick Roberts, Chris Rigg and Eliezer Mayenda behind striker Wilson Isidor with strikers Ahmed Abdullahi, Romaine Mundle and Tom Watson all injured.

Possible starting lineup

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pears; Rankin-Costello, Batth, Hyam, Beck; Trondstad, Buckley; Cozier-Duberry, Ohashi, Cantwell; Gueye

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; O'Nien, Mepham, Hjelde, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham; Roberts, Rigg, Mayenda; Isidor