Though Blues lost on Saturday, it’s not all doom and gloom. A narrow loss to one of the best sides in the division away from home is gutting, but to be expected. Now, though, Blues face the test of a winnable home game just a few days after. With some tired legs, they’ll need to pick themselves up and grab all three points to keep up any momentum remaining from the Boro game. Blackburn haven’t won in four, with losses to QPR and Luton in the last few weeks – making this a really winnable game. The scariest kind, for Blues fans.
Blues sit five points shy of a Playoffs berth, which is a gap it would be lovely to close. Blackburn are one point behind Blues, and could move above us with a victory. Bradley Dack and Lewis Holtby stand out as danger men in Blackburn’s midfield, and with enforcer Ivan Sunjic missing, Blues will need to find a new way to deal with their threat.
BUILD UP
As mentioned, Sunjic misses out through suspension after his fifth yellow of the season, leaving a space for either David Davis, Gary Gardner or potentially Josh McEachran, who may be given his first start for Blues. Jude Bellingham, despite his young age, may have to start another consecutive game in central midfield. Due to the fact this game comes so quickly after the Leeds game, and with another at the weekend, we may see a few rotations in and out of the squad. Former Blue Amari’i Bell may be back for Blackburn, who otherwise have no new issues.
THE STATS
Blues drew with Blackburn 2-2 home and away last year, with Che Adams scoring three times and Craig Gardner scoring a penalty for the other – so we might be guaranteed goals on Tuesday evening. In 2016/17, Blues took four points from Blackburn, where Stephen Gleeson scored the only goal in a home victory, but since there have been three score draws.
LINEUP
David Davis seems like the most likely candidate in midfield, but we hope to see Bellingham alongside him to offer some creativity and drive forwards. One of Juke or Gimenez is might start on the bench, as neither have looked particularly dangerous in recent weeks. Mrabti is a potential like-for-like replacement, though it might pave the way for Crowley to play more centrally if Maghoma replaces.
