Preview: Bristol City vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Bristol City host Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Wednesday night, with both sides looking to get back into the playoffs and close in on top spot.

The Robins have won only one of their last four league games, whereas Rovers last suffered a league defeat in October against Swansea City.

Match preview

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Despite Bristol City struggling to find consistency and slipping to eighth in the table, the Robins are just four points off the top in what is shaping up to be a wide open Championship season.

After winning their first four league matches of the campaign, Bristol City have since won four, drawn three and lost five, including the disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Birmingham last weekend.

Saturday's defeat means that the Robins have picked up just one win in their last six Championship home games, scoring only three goals.

Head coach Dean Holden will be relying on top goalscorer Nahki Wells, who has scored four goals in his last six league starts against Blackburn Rovers across spells at Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers.

Victory on Wednesday night could move Bristol City back into the playoffs and one point behind table toppers Norwich City if they were to lose to Nottingham Forest.

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Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was delighted with how his side performed with 10 men to earn a 2-2 draw away at Brentford on Saturday.

That result means that Rovers have accumulated 15 points from a possible 21 available and extended their unbeaten run in the league to seven matches.

Blackburn's good run of form has moved them up to ninth in the Championship, just six points behind top spot, and Mowbray is hoping that they can keep their momentum going.

One player who has starred for Rovers this season has been striker Adam Armstrong, who has netted 14 league goals, as has Brentford forward Ivan Toney which is more than anyone else in the division.

Blackburn could move into the playoffs if they were to win their third successive league game against Bristol City on Wednesday night.

Bristol City Championship form: WWDLWL

Blackburn Rovers Championship form: WDWWWD

Team News

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Bristol City boss Dean Holden could revert to a 3-5-2 formation this weekend instead of the 4-3-3 setup used in their last two matches.

Alfie Mawson (knee) and Andreas Weimann (cruciate ligament rupture) remain long-term absentees, while Nathan Baker, who has a hamstring injury, could return at the end of the month.

Midfielder Jamie Paterson, who has missed the previous two matches, remains a doubt so Chris Brunt could keep his place in the starting lineup alongside Adam Nagy and Callum O'Dowda.

Blackburn's Tony Mowbray is short of central defensive options after losing two of his centre-backs in the draw at Brentford on Saturday.

Scott Wharton was forced off on a stretcher with an Achilles tendon injury before Darragh Lenihan was shown a straight red card 10 minutes before half-time.

With Derrick Williams and Joe Rankin-Costello also ruled out with injuries, Ryan Nyambe is likely to fill in alongside Daniel Ayala, while one of three left-footed players - Barry Douglas, Amari'i Bell or Stuart Downing - may have to start at right-back.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

Bentley; Vyner, Moore, Kalas; Hunt, Nagy, Brunt, O'Dowda, Dasilva; Wells, Martin

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Downing, Nyambe, Ayala, Bell; Rothwell, Johnson, Davenport; Gallagher, Armstrong, Elliott

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

None of Bristol City's last nine home league meetings with Blackburn have ended as a draw, with the Robins winning six and losing the other three, but with the visitors in good form, they should be strong enough to take at least a point away from Ashton Gate.

Top betting tip

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