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

A win for Cardiff could lift them into the top half of the table, while Blackburn will look to cement their place in the playoffs.

Match preview

Cardiff City have made a slow start to the season and have won just one of their last eight games in the league, a run which saw Steve Morison lose his job and be replaced by former Cardiff defender Mark Hudson.

However, their last outing was an impressive 1-1 draw at home to Vincent Kompany's Burnley, when an injury-time goal from Callum Robinson was enough to clinch a last-gasp draw.

You have to go back to mid-August for Cardiff's most recent home victory - a 1-0 win over Birmingham City - with the Bluebirds struggling to find any consistent form in front of their own fans so far this season.

Goals have been particularly hard to come by, having hit the back of the net just eight times this season.

Cardiff's last home game was at the back end of August in a 0-0 draw with Preston North End, and with the Bluebirds sitting perilously close to the relegation zone, results really need to turn soon if Cardiff are to avoid a relegation battle.

For Blackburn the situation looks more optimistic, with Jon Dahl Tomasson's side sitting in the playoffs on 18 points from 11 games.

Blackburn's last outing saw them beat Millwall 2-1 at Ewood Park, where goals from Tyrhys Dolan and Ben Brereton Diaz were enough to overcome the London club.

Rovers have been in and around the playoffs in recent seasons, and with plenty of attacking talent at their disposal, Blackburn can expect to really push for promotion this season.

Blackburn did lose their last away game in the Championship, in a 2-0 defeat at Luton Town where goals from Carlton Morris and Reece Burke condemned Tomasson's side to defeat.

Cardiff City Championship form:

D

L

L

W

L

D

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

L

W

L

W

L

W

Team News

Cardiff have a few injury concerns heading into this fixture, with Rubin Colwill expected to miss out again here, although his omission is not expected to be a long one.

Otherwise boasting a clean bill of health, manager Mark Hudson will have to choose between Romaine Sawyers, Callum O'Dowda and Sheyi Ojo on the wing.

Callum Robinson is expected to start in attack, with Mark Harris, Max Watters and Gavin Whyte looking to get the nod to start alongside him.

For the away side, Jon Dahl Tomasson has no fresh injury concerns heading into this game and will be buoyed to see Sam Gallagher return from injury against Millwall on Saturday.

Clinton Mola has also returned to fitness, leaving just Sam Barnes as the only player currently injured for Blackburn.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Allsop; Romeo, Ng, Kipre, Nkounkou; Ojo, Wintle, Ralls, O'Dowda; Harris, Robinson

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Hyam, Ayala, Wharton; Hedges, Szmodics, Morton, Pickering; Gallagher, Brereton, Dolan

We say: Cardiff City 1-2 Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn are like a packet of Revels, with six wins and five defeats from 11 games highlighting their inconsistency, yet they currently sit inside the playoffs.

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