Blackburn Rovers vs Ipswich Town: Betting Odds & Prediction
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Blackburn Rovers host Ipswich Town on Friday evening in a match with implications for both ends of the Sky Bet Championship table.
Prior to kick-off, the hosts find themselves only three points above the relegation zone with their competition all playing earlier in the day. Visitors Ipswich Town will have an opportunity to put pressure on promotion competitors Leeds United who kick-off later in the day. Kick-off is set for 5.30pm at Ewood Park.
Recent Form
Blackburn Rovers
The hosts come into the tie in poor form which has left them dangerously close to the drop, having failed to win in their last nine attempts. Despite their lack of recent success as a group, Sammie Szmodics remains Championship top goal scorer on twenty-one goals so far this season and poses a threat against any opposition.
Despite failing to win in recent matches, Rovers are unbeaten in their last four league matches at Ewood Park. Converting draws into wins is where John Eustace’s side have fallen short since he joined the club in early February. Blackburn have won only 32% of their home matches in the league this year.
In terms of their expected goal (xG) tally at home, Blackburn have been successful this season averaging 1.52, but have failed to take their chances with a lesser average of 1.37 goals scored per home match.
Blackburn have only managed to keep a clean sheet in 5% of their home matches this season, conceding an average of 1.58 goals per game. This has somewhat improved since the departure of Jon Dahl Tomasson, with Rovers conceding an average of 1 goal per game under Eustace.
Ipswich Town
The visitors have been formidable all season, firmly planting themselves in contention for an automatic promotion spot despite only being promoted to the Championship last season. Welsh striker Kieffer Moore has scored six goals in his ten appearances since joining the club on loan in January.
Ipswich have won seven out of their last eight matches and come into the fixture after a dominant 6-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. They have however been less formidable away from home, winning 53% of their fixtures on the road, compared to 74% at home. The Tractor Boys suffered an uncommon 2-1 defeat in their last away match against Cardiff City.
Kieran Mckenna’s side are the Championships highest scorers this season with eighty goals scored. They are however less prolific away from home, with an expected goal (xG) tally of 1.49, netting an average of 1.42 goals per match. Despite scoring less goals on the road, though, Ipswich have still scored in 84% of their away matches.
Ipswich’s expected goals against (xGA) tally sits at 1.23 on the road, which they have bettered by only conceding an average of 1.05 goals per away match. They have kept a clean sheet in an impressive 42% of their away matches.
Prediction
Ipswich enter the game as strong favourites and can be expected to win, applying pressure to their competition for the automatic promotion spots by moving ahead of Leeds United before they kick-off later on in the day.
With the visitors being so prolific this season and Blackburn struggling to keep clean sheets at Ewood Park, OddsNow expect a high-scoring encounter.