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[monks data]
Blackburn logo
Championship
Nov 22, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Leeds logo

2-1

Rhodes (71', 88' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-1)
Doukara (33')

Preview: Blackburn Rovers vs. Leeds United

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between playoff-chasing Blackburn and Leeds at Ewood Park.

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to continue their push for a playoff place when they host Leeds United at Ewood Park this Saturday.

Gary Bowyer's side go into the match having not lost any of their last seven outings, although they were held to disappointing draws away to struggling Millwall and Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break.

As a result, they remain one place and one point outside the top six, although they would be handed a chance to leapfrog sixth-placed Brentford should the Bees slip up against Fulham on Friday night.

The hosts have no fresh injury concerns following the international break, with Grant Hanley fit to play this weekend despite being withdrawn early during Scotland's defeat to England on Tuesday.

Rudy Gestede was another to have come through unscathed, and the Benin international has quickly developed into his side's most important player with 10 league goals this season and five in his last four.

He will once again start up front on Saturday, while Jordan Rhodes could return to the starting lineup to partner him as Blackburn look to beat Leeds three times in a row for the first time in their history.

The visitors certainly don't have a great record at Ewood Park recently, having failed to score in three of their last four trips to Blackburn.

However, they did hit the back of the net three times in their last outing as they returned to winning ways, albeit only against rock-bottom Blackpool.

That result ended an eight-game winless streak and was Neil Redfearn's first victory as permanent boss of the club having impressed during a caretaker stint earlier in the campaign.

Hopes will be high that they can now build off that result, although with in-form sides such as Derby County and Ipswich Town to come in their next two games, they will need to improve further if they are to string together a run of positive results.

Tommaso Bianchi will be available for the weekend despite picking up a knock against Blackpool, while Giuseppe Bellusci is expected to come straight back into the side having served a one-game ban.

Blackburn:

Recent form: DWWWDD

Possible starting lineup: Steele; Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson; Cairney, Tunnicliffe, Evans, Marshall; Gestede, Rhodes

Leeds:

Recent form: LDLLDW

Possible starting lineup: Silvestri, Pearce, Bellusci, Warnock; Cook, Bianchi, Adryan, Mowatt; Antenucci, Doukara

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Jordan Rhodes of Blackburn Rovers celebrates his goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley at Ewood Park on March 9, 2014
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