Championship | Gameweek 24

Dec 29, 2024 at 3pm UK

Ewood Park (Blackburn, Lancashire)

Blackburn vs Hull City

Match preview

Blackburn occupy one of the division's four promotion play-off places, and although they are two points behind first-placed Leeds United and second-placed Sheffield United - who occupy the league's two automatic promotion places - they have a game in hand on the four teams above them.

The Riversiders created three great chances against Sunderland and almost twice as many xG, but with Sunderland creating four great chances, a draw was ultimately a fair reflection of the game.

Although manager John Eustace will be disappointed that his side conceded twice, he will be pleased with the overall performance of his players, who have conceded just three goals in their last seven games.

Blackburn are winless in their last two games, but they had won each of their previous six matches - they beat Hull 1-0 on 7 December - and scored nine goals in that time.

The hosts are unbeaten in their last three trips to Ewood Park - winning two and drawing one - although they have lost two and drawn one of their previous three at home, also failing to find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Hull created just one clear-cut chance against Preston, and while they only created one of their own, the Tigers once again proved vulnerable at the back.

Indeed, the visitors have conceded in each of their last 20 games and have scored just five goals in their last eight.

Boss Ruben Selles suggested a lack of ruthlessness was to blame for the defeat to Preston, telling reporters: "We created situations to score at least one goal and then in one moment we went 1-0 down and never recovered in terms of the score. I think we were competitive enough.

Selles' side have lost eight of their last 10 games and have won just once in their last 15.

The Tigers have a poor away record, losing their last five away games by a combined score of 8-2.

Recent Performance

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:WWWWLD

Hull City Championship form:LLDLWL

Team News

Blackburn have a number of absentees to contend with, including defenders Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter and Harry Pickering, who is not expected to return until March.

Fans can expect Callum Brittain, Dominic Hyam, Danny Batth and Owen Beck to feature in a back four.

Lewis Baker and Sondre Tronstad could start in a double pivot with midfielder Lewis Travis ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Todd Cantwell is likely to play in an attacking role behind striker Yuki Ohashi with Arnor Sigurdsson and Zak Gilsenan unavailable.

Hull will be without goalkeepers Thimothee Lo-Tutala, Harvey Cartwright and Carl Rushworth, as well as defender Andrew Smith.

Their absence could see Selles select a back four of Lewie Coyle, Alfie Jones, Sean McLoughlin and Ryan Giles in front of goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.

Midfielder Kasey Palmer is out until the end of February, while strikers Mohamed Belloumi, Dogukan Sinik and Liam Millar will all miss out on Sunday.

Regan Slater, Steven Alzate and Gustavo Puerta are likely to start in midfield behind a front three of Ryan Longman, Joao Pedro Galvao and Mason Burstow.

Possible starting lineup

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Beck; Baker, Tronstad; Dolan, Cantwell, Hedges; Ohashi

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Pandur; Coyle, Jones, McLoughlin, Giles; Slater, Alzate, Puerta; Longman, Galvao, Burstow