Marcus Braddock looks ahead to the trip to Blackburn
It may have occurred to anyone who regularly reads this preview (and may I congratulate you on your impeccable taste) that I worry about football results. Looking back it's true to say that when we do well I worry about losing and when we lose I'm convinced we can win if we just get our share of the luck. So it should come as no surprise to read that I'm a little on the apprehensive side about this particular game. Of all the teams that we've so far played at Montgomery Waters Meadow, Blackburn looked the most able to hurt us. I thought we'd done well to get a result from them at home, although looking back we more than held our own.
Form wise, Blackburn are on a good run of league wins but recently have found wins a little difficult to come by with one win and one defeat in their last five games..
Top Scorers (league goals)
Bradley Dack 10
Charlie Mulgrew 9
Marcus Antonsson 7
Assists
Derrick Williams 4
Marcus Antonsson 3
Elliott Bennett 3
Harry Chapman 3
Clean Sheets
5 at home and 5 away.
Goal Distribution
Rovers are a team that finishes halves strongly. In home games they have scored five times in the last fifteen minutes of the first half, conceding just once in the same period. Similarly the final fifteen minutes are fruitful for their forwards with seven goals and relatively frugal for their defence with just two conceded. Their first half is the meanest in terms of goals conceded with just four conceded in the first half of League games at Ewood park. If they have a weak point it's the start of the half with four conceded in the first fifteen minutes of both halves combined.
Referee - John Brooks from Leicestershire. Games: 30. Yellow cards: 93. Red cards: 4.
Assistants: Matthew Jones and Kevin Mulraine.
Fourth Official: Scott Oldham.
Squad News
Blackburn have one or two missing but their large squad should help them out a bit. They have new signing Adam Armstrong on loan from Newcastle, he has Premiership and League One experience under his belt so we'll have to keep a good eye on him. Striker Marcus Antonsson will be missing because of an ankle injury and fellow forward Harry Chapman will also miss out because of a Hamstring injury.
Town have no fresh injury worries, just Junior Brown who is a long term absentee but not forgotten.
Summary
Another massive game but I think they could also be massive from here on. Blackburn have the opportunity to cut our five point lead on them to just two but we have an opportunity to keep things as they are or even go a further three points ahead which would be a nice cushion with the business end of the season approaching. I think we can get something at Ewood Park, it will be hard work and we'll have to keep an excellent strike force quiet but we're more than capable of matching most teams.
COYB!!!
Marcus