West Brom v Blackburn predictions: Championship rivals set for a cagey contest

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for West Brom v Blackburn in the Championship on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 8pm Monday

Best bets

0-0 half-time correct score
2pts 13-8 bet365

Jayson Molumby to be shown a card
1pt 3-1 Hills

Team news

West Brom
Jake Livermore is suspended after his red card against Sheffield United so Jayson Molumby should start in midfield. Daryl Dike, Kean Bryan and Kyle Bartley are injured.

Blackburn
Darragh Lenihan is banned so Daniel Ayala may return to the defence. Ryan Nyambe and Sam Gallagher are also pushing for recalls to the starting line-up but Bradley Dack is still sidelined.

Match preview

West Brom manager Steve Bruce and Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray were both uncompromising centre-backs in their playing days and defences look set to dominate the clash between two of the Championship's faltering promotion contenders.

Bruce's first game as West Brom manager ended in a 2-0 defeat at in-form Sheffield United and he will be desperate to rejuvenate their campaign with a home win over Rovers.

Fulham and Bournemouth are still going strong in the Championship automatic-promotion places but the table is becoming increasingly congested below them.

Tony Mowbray's Rovers are third in the standings but are also feeling the heat following a lean time in front of goal since the turn of the year.

Blackburn put together a blistering run of results at the end of 2021, winning nine of their last 11 league games, but they have struggled to maintain that hot streak recently.

Mowbray's men have scored only two goals in seven Championship matches in 2022, giving them vital 1-0 victories over Cardiff and Middlesbrough.

They also earned goalless draws against highflying Huddersfield and in-form Luton but their last two outings have ended in defeats at Swansea (1-0) and at home to Nottingham Forest, another team now involved in the chase for a top-six finish.

Mowbray, who managed West Brom between 2006 and 2009, will be desperate for his forwards to rediscover their form in front of goal on his return to The Hawthorns.

However, bookmakers favour odds-on shots West Brom who, despite their recent slump, have still lost only one of their 14 home games in the second tier this season.

An attritional contest is expected and one or both teams not to score, which has copped in eight of West Brom's last nine league games and 12 of Blackburn's last 13, is of interest at 5-6 with BoyleSports.

First-half goals have been thin on the ground in the Baggies' recent games and given the low confidence levels in both camps it may pay to back the 0-0 half-time correct score. Eight of West Brom's last 12 league matches have been goalless at the break.

If goals are likely to be scarce, the same cannot be said of cards. West Brom have picked up the most red cards in the Championship this season and Blackburn are leading the way in yellow cards so referee John Brooks, who averages four bookings per game in the second tier, could be kept busy.

The Baggies' Ireland international midfielder Jayson Molumby, set to deputise for the suspended Jake Livermore, has picked up five bookings and one red card in his last 20 appearances for club and country and looks a big price to be shown a card.

Key stat

West Brom's last 15 Championship games have produced only seven first-half goals.

Inside info

West Brom

Penalty taker Karlan Grant
Free-kick wizard Alex Mowatt
Set-piece aerial threat Andy Carroll
Card magnet Jayson Molumby

Blackburn

Penalty taker Ben Brereton Diaz
Free-kick wizardJoe Rothwell
Set-piece aerial threatDaniel Ayala
Card magnetJohn Buckley

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