Blackburn Rovers (H) Preview
Brady Frost, Feature Writer
Twitter: @brady0894
Source for image above: HTAFC
From Barnsley to welcoming Blackburn. Dan from Blackburn Rover fan channel Rovers Chat explains all in our latest match preview.
The games are coming thick and fast, so we’ll keep this preview short and sweet. The Barnsley game wasn’t the exciting Boxing Day Yorkshire Derby we expected it to be and to lose in the last minute is always a gut punch.
Playing tonight against Blackburn, Huddersfield in the past have a good record against the Lancashire side. Town are unbeaten in their last eight games against Rovers, in a run that stretches back to 2014. They only have only two wins in those encounters, with the last coming on this day exactly a year ago, the 2-1 win at home on the 29th December.
It’s a coincidence that the same game happens to fall on the same date a year later, but can Town replicate getting the three points? To find out, we spoke to Dan from Blackburn Rovers fan channel Rovers Chat to see what we can expect from the away team.
Tony Mowbray has impressed at his time at Blackburn. Photo source: Blackburn Rovers
What have you made of your season so far?
The word inconsistency springs to mind. We’ve blown teams away - see Wycombe, Derby and Coventry as examples, and we’ve given good sides a test - like Watford and Bournemouth - but we’re yet to beat a side in the top half of the table and that’s a statistics that will plague us until we break it.
What are your general expectations for the rest of the season now that we’re well underway?
It all depends on the returning players. We’ve still got key players such as Bradley Dack, Joe Rankin-Costello and Lewis Travis to come back into the side, and they could help us get over the line against some of the better sides. It’s all ifs and buts, but I expect us to finish just outside the play-offs.
Adam Armstrong has continued to show his remarkable form from last season up front, can you tell us more about him and could he fire you to a playoff push?
Since Bradley Dack’s injury, Armstrong has really stepped up and hit some proper goalscoring form. Our setup this season does revolve around him playing off the shoulder of the last defender, and he gets plenty of shots off of his. He could get us near to the top six, but others need to contribute towards it.
Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott has impressed in his time at Blackburn so far. Photo source: Blackburn Rovers
Which player from your current squad do you think will be one to watch this season?
I can’t go without acknowledging Harvey Elliott. We couldn’t believe that he was joining on loan, and he’s been nothing short of brilliant. He’s so calm on the ball, has plenty of talent and if he continues to put the work in, I truly believe he’ll be a regular Premier League player before he turns 20. What a deal from Tony Mowbray!
What are you expecting from the game against Huddersfield?
In all honesty, Huddersfield are one of the sides I’ve seen less of this season so I don’t know too much under the new manager. I have been intrigued by the young forward, Josh Koroma. He looks a real talent and I’m not sure if he’ll be back, but I’d be expecting him to give us a tough test.
Is there anything Huddersfield need to be on the lookout for in this game?
Ben Brereton is likely to feature and he provides another outlet going forward. Sides have struggled to contain Elliott, Armstrong and Brereton this season, and part of our recent struggles have been the absence of Ben letting teams focus more on Armstrong.
Bradley Dack is likely to feature in this game after coming back from a lengthly injury. Photo source: Blackburn Rovers
What are Blackburn’s weaknesses, is there anything Huddersfield can take advantage of?
We do struggle defensively and with the impressive duo of Derrick Williams and Scott Wharton out through injury, it’s likely to be Darragh Lenihan and Daniel Ayala, who have struggled together.
It’s definitely our defensive side of the game that you’ll be able to take advantage of, if anything.
What are your expectations for Huddersfield Town this season?
I imagine a similar season to ours. Be in and around the playoff picture over the season and slowly tail off towards the end. It just depends on whoever can put a run together, so we’ll wait and see.
What’s your score prediction for the game?
I can’t back against Rovers, so I’ll go for a narrow 2-1 win. Brereton and Elliott to get on the scoresheet for us.
How do you think Huddersfield will get on against Blackburn? Let us know in the comments!
