Blackburn Rovers V Stoke City Betting – Saturday 28th November

Blackburn Rovers V Stoke City

Kick-off: Saturday 28th November – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 11th

Recent Form: WLLWW

Blackburn have bounced back from a difficult start to the season by not only winning their first away game of the season, but also winning their first back-to-back games since September last year. After hearing this, it’s pretty clear that Rovers have struggled for consistency and this has certainly been the case this season, especially on the road, but perhaps their 2-0 victory at The Reebok will have lifted their spirits and Blackburn have a glorious opportunity to string together their first three wins on the spin since way back in April, 2008.

The win at The Reebok, against a normally strong Bolton outfit at home, was a huge result as the away voodoo was beginning to grow after previously failing to win on the road in five attempts this season, although it’s ten if you count their away results at the end of last season. That’s now a big chip off Blackburn’s shoulders and they will also be boosted by the news that their manager, Sam Allardyce, maybe at the game after his heart surgery.

At home, Ewood Park, Blackburn have been a force to be reckoned with, winning four on the bounce. Victories over Wolves (3-1), Aston Villa (2-1), Burnley (3-2) & Portsmouth (3-1), has seen Rovers pick up twelve points from a possible eighteen at home this term, with a defeat to Man City and the draw with West Ham their early slip ups at home this season. However, they didn’t dwell on their early setbacks and have come on strong ever since. They are averaging nearly two goals a game at Ewood Park, although, they are shipping a fair few in return. Also, Blackburn may have won their previous four home encounters but they failed to keep a clean sheet in either, so there is definitely room for improvements.

If Blackburn can maintain their early home form then they should be very hard to stop, let alone beat. However, they were sent crashing back down to earth on Wednesday with yet another away defeat, this time at Craven Cottage, losing 2-0 to Fulham. We did think that perhaps their weekend success at Bolton may have lifted their travelling spirits but that clearly hasn’t been the case. However, a trip back home could be what they need to mend a few broken hearts and lick a few wounds.

Stoke City

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: WWDLW

The win at the weekend will have done the Stoke camp a world of good after previously failing to win in their last two attempts. In what wasn’t the best of contests, Stoke managed to grind out a hard fought and, at times, fortunate victory, and the three points has lifted them straight back into the top ten. However, they will need to keep up this winning trend if they want to remain in the upper tier of the table as the competition for places starts to hot up.

Ricardo Fuller scored his first goal of the season at the weekend, and what a goal it was. However, he hasn’t been anywhere near the level Tony Pulis demands from him and neither have the rest of the strikers for that matter, with Stoke managing just 13 goals this season, of which just four have come on the road. That is certainly a cause for concern as they head to Ewood Park to face a stubborn and resilient Blackburn side. What’s more, their record on the road isn’t all that great, either, with their only away success this season coming in the form of a narrow and surprise 1-0 victory at Tottenham, a team who scored nine last Sunday. Make of that what you will.

Stoke’s away record this term stands at 1-3-2, with draws an ever growing occurrence. Birmingham, Bolton & Everton are all sides Stoke have drawn against on the road this season, some of which are teams very similar to their opponents on Saturday. In terms of a physical match up, Stoke could actually find their match in Blackburn, and it could be another case of defending in numbers and hopefully taken their chances, either on the break or from set-pieces, although, they may well struggle to score from set-plays against a strong and tall Blackburn side.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Blackburn Rovers W: 1 Stoke City W: 1 Draws: 0

It’s honours even so far as both teams won their respective home encounters last season. Blackburn recorded a 3-0 win at Ewood Park while Stoke sneaked a narrow 1-0 victory at The Brittania. In both meetings, the away side failed to score so perhaps a pattern is starting to form, although, it’s still early days with this game on Saturday being just their third Premiership meeting.

Match Verdict:- Blackburn Rovers to WIN – 1.95 Boylesports

Against the average teams in the league, Blackburn have been clinical at home and it should be a case of the same as they travel back to Lancashire to face Stoke City. Blackburn’s home record is probably what will keep them in the league judging by their early away showings, and games of this magnitude take on greater significance as, come the end of the season, it could perhaps become a six-pointer. With the Lancashire fans rallying Rovers on, we fancy to amend for their Wednesday woes with a well earned victory at home to Stoke in what will be a tough game, nevertheless.

Match Odds:

Blackburn Rovers – 1.95 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 Bet365

Stoke City – 4.30 Coral

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Blackburn Rovers (Half-Time/Full-Time) – 3.20 StanJames