Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Leicester City will be bidding to reach the 100-point mark when the already-crowned Championship winners play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
At a time when the Foxes are guaranteed first place in the standings, Blackburn need a point from their trip to the King Power Stadium to secure their survival in the second tier.
Match preview
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On the back of losing back-to-back fixtures against Millwall and Plymouth Argyle, many felt that Leicester had suddenly become outsiders for automatic promotion.
However, Enzo Maresca‘s side have impressively responded with three victories in succession to secure the Championship title with a game to spare.
Edging past West Bromwich Albion by a 2-1 scoreline was the pivotal result, yet thrashing Southampton and Preston North End through eight goals across those games have been equally impactful.
Leeds United’s 4-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers initially got Leicester over the line last Friday, before they cruised to a 3-0 triumph at Preston three days later.
The East Midlands outfit will now attempt to become just the seventh Championship winners to end the season with 100 points or more. They require a win to achieve that feat.
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Meanwhile, Blackburn have been involved in a relegation scrap of late courtesy of having won just two of their last 15 fixtures in the Championship.
John Eustace has failed to have the same kind of influence as he was having at Birmingham City earlier in the season, yet he has moved Rovers to the brink of survival.
Since returning from the March international break, Blackburn have accumulated eight points from six games, a run which has included victories at Sunderland and Leeds.
While Blackburn could only draw against Coventry last weekend, it was a point which took them to the 50-point mark and ensured that Birmingham and Plymouth Argyle must each win their respective games for Blackburn to have any concerns over dropping into League One.
Leicester City Championship form:
Blackburn Rovers Championship form:
Team News
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Maresca’s Leicester XI is somewhat of an unknown given that the title race is over and the Italian rotated his squad against Preston.
Mads Hermansen, James Justin, Hamza Choudhury, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Stephy Mavididi are all in contention for recalls.
Eustace could plausibly select the same Blackburn starting lineup from the goalless draw versus Coventry.
If a change is made, Ben Chrisene may return at left wing-back, but John Fleck and Arnor Sigurdsson are among the players who are absent through injury.
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Choudhury, Coady, Vestergaard, Justin; Akgun, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Vardy, Mavididi
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Carter, McFadzean, Hyam; Brittain, Tronstad, Rankin-Costello, Pickering; Szmodics; Gallagher, Dolan
We say: Leicester City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
This will be an afternoon of celebration for Leicester, yet their players know that they have a job to do on the pitch. Blackburn could do enough to earn a share of the spoils, but if results elsewhere are going their way, Leicester may be able to edge a winner in the closing stages.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.