Blackburn Rovers workforce information and predicted XI vs Middlesbrough

Blackburn Rovers ended a run of 5 video games and not using a win final weekend by beating Millwall 2-0 at Ewood Park. Objectives from inform frontmen Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi sealed a cushty win towards an out-of-form Millwall aspect.

It was additionally an excellent day for the Rovers academy with first-team debuts for Matty Litherland and Nathan Dlamini. Not solely that, however there was a primary Championship ouring for Tom Atcheson. George Pratt additionally performed one other 90 minutes in what has been a formidable return to the membership after a mortgage spell at Chorley.

It leaves them twentieth within the Championship desk, and 6 factors away from Oxford United in twenty second, with a recreation in hand.

Middlesbrough, then again, are 2nd and 6 factors behind the league leaders Coventry Metropolis. Boro went 4 video games unbeaten after the arrival of Kim Hellberg earlier than a shock 2-0 defeat at Bristol Metropolis final outing.

Blackburn Rovers workforce information

Blackburn Rovers might flip to the academy as soon as once more for the journey to Boxing Day, with a brand new identify probably set to hitch the harm record. Valerien Ismael confirmed in-form striker Gudjohnsen is a doubt after choosing up a hamstring harm towards the Lions.

Andri Gudjohnsen’s stats for Blackburn Rovers

Gudjohnsen joins Kristi Montgomery, Hayden Carter, Scott Wharton, Jake Garrett, Adam Forshaw and Augustus Kargbo on the sidelines.

Nevertheless, Ismael revealed Balazs Toth could also be set to return to the squad on Friday.

Predicted XI

(3-4-2-1)

Pears; Miller, McLoughlin, Pratt; Litherland, Gardner-Hickman, Tronstad, Hedges; Cantwell, Morishita; Ohashi

Regardless of Toth’s return to health, anticipate Aynsley Pears to stay in objective for now. Additionally anticipate the identical again three as towards Millwall, with Sean McLoughlin main Pratt and Lewis Miller on both aspect of him.

It will be harsh to exchange Litherland at proper wing-back after his spectacular efficiency towards Millwall final week. He was instrumental in Rovers’ first objective, working tirelessly down that proper flank.

Anticipate Ryan Hedges to return to the beginning XI at left wing-back after coming off the bench towards Millwall to exchange Harry Pickering. It’s extensively thought that Pickering will likely be leaving the membership in January, with the defender struggling for minutes.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman will return to the XI alongside Sondre Tronstad. The 2 defensive midfielders will should be on type towards a Middlesbrough aspect that has scored 33 targets up to now this time period.

Anticipate there to be a slight change in formation in assault with Morishita and Cantwell supporting Yuki Ohashi, who will take up the lone striker function in Gudjohnsen’s absence. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how the dynamic of the Blackburn Rovers assault will look with out the Icelandic ahead.

The conflict between Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough kicks off at 15:00 on Friday afternoon and will likely be broadcast stay on Sky Sports activities Plus.