Blackburnvs.Leeds

The visitors returned to the summit with a third straight victory on Wednesday, while their hosts climbed to eighth spot with a midweek win of their own.

Match preview

Blackburn Rovers head into the weekend aiming to crash the Championship playoff places with a third straight victory, having bounced back to form since the November international break.

They have enjoyed a pleasing start to their first full season under the management of John Eustace, currently sitting eighth having earned 25 points from 16 outings, after finishing 19th with 53 on the board last time around.

The Lancashire outfit did head into the recent break in the midst of a tough run, though, following a draw and three straight defeats to Watford, Sheffield United and Stoke City, but they have rejoined the top-six hunt on their return, firstly bouncing back to winning ways in a trip to Cardiff City as Andreas Weimann hit a brace and Lewis Baker added a third late on in a 3-1 triumph.

A tough trip to then-fifth-placed Middlesbrough then followed on Wednesday, and Rovers made it back-to-back three-point hauls in an impressive display, standing strong throughout the contest and narrowing their gap to the top six as Dominic Hyam netted the only goal 13 minutes from time.

Having rebuilt confidence in the last week and moved within two points of the playoff spots, Blackburn Rovers will now go in search of a third straight Championship win for the first time in over a year.

They face one of their toughest tests yet, though, as the visitors arrive aiming to build a lead at the summit of the table and extend their own winning streak.

Aiming to bounce back to the Premier League at the second time of asking under the management of Daniel Farke, Leeds United have enjoyed a strong Championship campaign thus far, currently topping the table having amassed 35 points from their first 17 outings, losing just two of those along the way.

Following the most recent of those defeats away at Millwall in early November, the Whites have returned to top spot with three straight victories, firstly beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0 before visiting Swansea City and eventually winning an eventful contest 4-3 thanks to Willy Gnonto's injury-time goal, having been pegged back in 90th minute.

Luton Town then visited Elland Road on Wednesday and Farke's men regained first place from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United with a 3-0 triumph, as Sam Byram and Joel Piroe had them two up at the break and Daniel James put the game out of sight in the final 10 minutes.

Now sitting in a strong position in their promotion hunt, albeit only leading Sheffield United on goal difference and Burnley and Sunderland by two points, Leeds United will look to keep building momentum with a fourth straight win on Saturday.

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

D

L

L

L

W

W

Leeds United Championship form:

D

W

L

W

W

W

Team News

John Eustace may field an unchanged Blackburn Rovers starting XI from their midweek 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, with Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter, Arnor Sigurdsson and Andreas Weimann set to remain sidelined by injuries.

In the absence of Weimann, who sits joint-top of their scoring charts with five goals this term, Yuki Ohashi should continue to lead the line with support from Tyrhys Dolan, Todd Cantwell and Ryan Hedges, although Makhtar Gueye will also compete for a starting spot.

Danny Batth and Dominic Hyam will again partner up at the heart of the defence after Wednesday's impressive clean sheet, while Sondre Tronstad and Lewis Travis will continue their established midfield pairing.

Leeds United will remain without midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev on Saturday, although they will be boosted by the return of defender Junior Firpo from a three-match suspension.

He should come back in and rejoin Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Jayden Bogle in a back four, while Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka should continue in the midfield having impressed in the absence of Gruev and Ampadu.

After netting his seventh goal of the season against Luton, Joel Piroe will again get the nod over Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph to lead the line, while Daniel James and Largie Ramazani will compete to start in support after Manor Solomon, Brenden Aaronson and Willy Gnonto were preferred at Elland Road.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pears; Brittain, Hyam, Batth, Pickering; Tronstad, Travis; Dolan, Cantwell, Hedges; Ohashi

Leeds United possible starting lineup:

Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Rothwell, Tanaka; James, Aaronson, Gnonto; Piroe

We say: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Leeds United

Blackburn Rovers certainly showed their ability to compete with the Championship's stronger sides in their away win over Middlesbrough, but they face another tricky test on Saturday.

Previews by email