Blackburn Rovers vs Coventry City: Betting Odds & Prediction
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Relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers host a downbeat Coventry City side at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.
The away side's play-off hopes were all but ended with a 3-2 defeat at home to Hull City on Wednesday, while Blackburn are in dire need of points if they are to remain in the Championship next season.
Kick-off is set for 3pm UK time.
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Blackburn Rovers
The hosts suffered a devastating 3-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, plunging them further towards the dreaded relegation zone with two games remaining. Rovers now sit just three points clear of the bottom three and could find themselves in the dreaded drop zone depending on results elsewhere if they suffer another defeat here.
Points are therefore vital but Blackburn remain winless in their last five home matches, and only two sides have averaged a worse return on home soil throughout the campaign. A dismal 1.09 points across 22 home outings has played a key role in their poor standing in the Championship, with a leaky defence largely at fault for the poor record.
A worrying average of 1.55 goals conceded at home remarkably betters an even worse 1.82 on the road, and Rovers have managed just two clean sheets on home turf. Ten of these games have seen them concede at least three.
Blackburn have failed to score in only four home matches though, but an average of 1.32 scored in front of their home fans isn't enough to plug the gaps left at the back.
Coventry City
The Sky Blues have endured a rollercoaster week so far, coming back from 3-0 down against Manchester United before eventually losing an FA Cup semi-final on penalties in the capital. Mark Robins' side had to pick themselves up quickly, but were unable to prevent a 3-2 home defeat to Hull which leaves securing a place among the play-offs a near impossibility due to their inferior goal difference.
The damage has been done in the last four weeks, with Coventry suffering four defeats in their last five league matches. They've also made habit of conceding in recent games, shipping three goals in each of their last four outings in all competitions.
Forwards Ellis Simms and Haji Wright have both contributed to Coventry's healthy attacking output, with the Midlanders averaging 1.55 goals scored on the road and failing to score in just three away matches so far. Though this betters the 1.45 they've conceded, just three clean sheets in these games has proved costly.
Prediction
Coventry have shown promise this season, but the tumultuous season looks to have finally taken its toll on the players. Their Wembley heroics will long live in the memory despite the result, but with little to play for given the loss suffered in midweek, Blackburn are the side with the biggest incentive to win here.
Despite their poor form on home turf, OddsNow back the hosts to secure three points to revitalise their survival push at the bottom of the table.