Prediction: Blackburn vs West Brom

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Two sides who have their sights set on punching a play-off ticket this season, Blackburn will welcome West From to Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.

Blackburn

Starting with the hosts, suffering what was an infamous Championship collapse last season over the final couple of months, Blackburn were eventually left heartbroken after only missing out on a play-off spot through their goal difference. However, with Jon Dahl Tomasson making it clear that his squad will be trying to mount another top-six charge this time around, the Rovers will know the importance of finding some much-needed stability on home soil. Failing to win any of their last five Championship appearances at Ewood Park, Blackburn should at least take some positives away from their eye-catching summer run. Despite signing off their pre-season preparations with an action-packed 3-2 defeat at the hands of Spanish outfit Girona, that was the only loss that Tomasson’s men tasted from their eight friendly showdowns this summer. With that pre-season flurry underlined by a 4-3 victory against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, Blackburn will be looking to make an early statement on Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Watching attacking talisman Ben Brereton Diaz make the move to Villarreal this summer, summer arrival and ex-Plymouth striker Niall Ennis could be handed a full debut leading the line on Saturday afternoon.

Although number-one goalkeeper Aynsley Pears might have missed Blackburn’s final pre-season appearance against Girona, the 25-year-old will start between the sticks this weekend.

West Brom

As for the visitors, also enduring their own public Championship collapse last season as they missed out on a play-off ticket, West Brom have certainly failed to pick up any kind of momentum this summer. Along with signing off their pre-season run with an action-packed 4-3 defeat at the hands of Bolton, Carlos Corberan’s men were without a single win from any of their final five friendly appearances this summer. Likewise, collecting only three points from their last four Championship showdowns last season, the one-time Huddersfield boss also saw his squad gain a reputation for their rather glaring issues on the road. In fact, the Baggies remarkably picked just a pair of wins from any of their final 10 second-tier appearances away from the Hawthorns. Nevertheless, still tipped as one of the leading pre-season play-off contenders, Corberan’s men will know the importance of claiming a crucial boost when they make the trip to Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Signing off West Brom’s pre-season preparations with a brace away at Bolton last weekend, former Salford starlet Brandon Thomas-Asante could be handed the chance to spearhead Corberan’s attack at Ewood Park.

Making a season-long loan switch from Premier League high-flyers Brighton this summer, Jeremy Sarmiento should make his full Baggies debut on Saturday afternoon.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met on Championship duties back on February 15th, Blackburn and West Brom played out a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns.
• Saturday’s hosts have lost just one of their previous five meetings against the Baggies – a run that stems back to August 2019.
• Seven of the last eight meetings between Saturday’s opponents have finished with both teams getting on the scoresheet.
• Blackburn failed to win any of their final five Championship appearances at Ewood Park last season.
• Likewise, West Brom signed off the 2022/23 campaign with just a pair of wins from any of their final 10 Championship contests on the road.

Conclusion

Two sides who open the 2023/24 campaign with their sights set on punching a play-off ticket, we could be treated to an enjoyable showdown at Ewood Park. With the two top-six dreamers playing out a 1-1 draw when they last met at the Hawthorns back on February 15th, it should be noted that Saturday’s opponents do have a habit of producing lively outcomes. With seven of their previous nine meetings finishing with both teams finding the net, chances could come thick and fast here. Likewise, with each of their last five battles at Ewood Park finishing with an identical outcome, we are expecting an opening weekend thriller in Lancashire.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet