Middlesbrough make the trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers in the Championship’s Friday night offering this week.
Our Blackburn vs Middlesbrough prediction and preview will look at what could happen in this clash between two playoff hopefuls at opposite ends of the form table.
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Blackburn vs Middlesbrough prediction: Can Rovers end their rut?
Key stats
- Boro are the third-highest scorers in the division, with only Leeds United and Norwich City having netted more than their tally of 59.
- Blackburn have lost 10 of their last 14 games across all competitions.
- Boro’s Finn Azaz is the only player in the Championship to have hit double figures in both goals and assists this season.
Correct score prediction: Blackburn 1-2 Middlesbrough
Even though their automatic promotion chase collapsed entirely at the end of 2024 and into the new year, Middlesbrough are recovering well in their hunt to reach the playoffs, with four wins from their last six.
Blackburn have taken just one point from their last six, and will need to hope home advantage can get them over the line here, but Boro are not ideal opponents to face when on a four-game losing streak.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Not much to split the sides in the markets
HOME: 7/4 (2.75) – 36.4%
DRAW: 12/5 (3.4) – 29.4%
AWAY: 6/4 (2.5) – 40.0%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
A Middlesbrough win could well turn out to be one of the most high-value bets anywhere in the EFL this weekend when looking at these Blackburn vs Middlesbrough odds and the form table that has Michael Carrick’s men at the top, and Blackburn near the bottom.
However, there is still some value in a home victory, considering Blackburn have only lost one of their last six at Ewood Park, taking 11 points in that time, but that sole defeat did come last time out here against Cardiff City.
Feel free to take a look at our football betting tips page to check out our other predictions and tips!
Recent H2Hs: Rovers have the slight edge
Blackburn have been strong in this fixture in recent times, winning three of the last four against Boro, including the last meeting at Ewood early in the 2023-24 campaign, and they have the slight edge in clashes here, with three wins to two across the last six.
England FA Cup 11/01/25
Middlesbrough
Blackburn
England Championship 27/11/24
Middlesbrough
Blackburn
England Championship 16/03/24
Middlesbrough
Blackburn
England Championship 16/09/23
Blackburn
Middlesbrough
England Championship 29/12/22
Blackburn
Middlesbrough
Blackburn preview: Ismael's men must respond despite injuries
With top scorer Andi Wiemann missing through injury, it is hardly surprising to see Blackburn struggling, and his absence has coincided with their recent four-game losing run, which continued last weekend away to Portsmouth.
Defensive pair Callum Brittain and Harry Pickering are still nursing setbacks with Scott Wharton a long-term absentee, while Augustus Kargbo, Harry Leonard and Emmanuel Dennis are out in attack.
Predicted lineup: Pears (GK), Carter, Hyam, Batth, Yuri Ribeiro, Woodrow, Tronstad, Travis, Dolan, Ohashi & Beck
England Championship 12/04/25
W
Luton
0
Blackburn
1
England Championship 08/04/25
D
Sheff Wed
2
Blackburn
2
England Championship 04/04/25
L
Middlesbrough
2
Blackburn
0
England Championship 29/03/25
L
Portsmouth
1
Blackburn
0
England Championship 15/03/25
L
Cardiff
2
Blackburn
1
Middlesbrough preview: Hitting form at the perfect time
Only eight points separate the teams between fifth and 13th, and Middlesbrough find themselves sandwiched in the middle, only outside of the playoffs on goal difference, after a late win over Oxford United last weekend.
Carrick was able to welcome Riley McGree and Rav van den Berg back from injury last week, but the likes of experienced Luke Ayling, goalkeeper Seny Dieng, Liverpool loanee Ben Doak and defender Dael Fry are still struggling with injury.
Predicted lineup: Travers (GK), Dijksteel, Howson, Neto Borges, Iling Junior, Morris, Hackney, Burgzorg, Azaz, Conway & Iheanacho
England Championship 12/04/25
L
Millwall
1
Middlesbrough
0
England Championship 08/04/25
L
Leeds
1
Middlesbrough
0
England Championship 04/04/25
W
Blackburn
0
Middlesbrough
2
England Championship 29/03/25
W
Oxford Utd
1
Middlesbrough
2
England Championship 15/03/25
D
Luton
0
Middlesbrough
0
Player to watch: Finn Azaz
Despite leaving in January, Emmanuel Latte Lath is still Boro’s top scorer this season, but he will not be for much longer if Azaz continues his recent form that has seen him score 10 and assist 11 in the Championship this season.
Azaz’s standout performances under Carrick this season have seen him break into the Ireland squad, where he provided a goal and an assist across their two games with Bulgaria last week, and he could have a big influence on proceedings again here.