Blackburn will be travelling to face Hull City on Boxing Day as they look to move to second in the Championship standings with a victory on Humberside.
Meanwhile, Hull City head into the game with a number of coronavirus cases in their team, and are sitting four points above the relegation zone.
Hull City’s six-match unbeaten run came to an end last weekend as the allowed a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Positives will be taken from the performance in the East Midlands, but the setback is capable of halting Hull City’s momentum as they seek to move further from the bottom three.
The hosts are at a disadvantage ahead of the match, with manager Grant McCann one of the several staff and players to test positive for coronavirus.
However, as it stands, the game at the MKM Stadium is still scheduled to go ahead with assistant manager Cliff Byme taking McCann’s place in the reigns.
At some point in the season, Blackburn were capable of scoring goals but unable to back it up in their defensive third of the pitch.
However, the Blue and Whites have now recorded five successive wins, all with clean sheets, and have scored 12 goals in the process.
On the back of a 7-0 humiliation at home by Fulham on November 3, it has been a emarkable turnaround, which has put the Rovers on the brink of moving into second position on the table.
While Blackburn’s goal difference is way inferior to Fulham, another three points on Sunday would break up the dominance in the top two, confirming the feeling that it is now a four-horse race for the title.
Blackburn’s Ben Brereton Diaz now has 19 goals for the season, with his latest double coming during the 4-0 victory over Birmingham City last weekend.
Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers head to head
The two clubs have previously met 14 times in all competitions, with Blackburn Rovers taking 8 victories against 3 of Hull City, and they have drawn in three. Blackburn Rovers have scored 16 goals and conceded 8, and they have won in all their last five encounters home and away.
Hull City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers 18/08/18
Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Hull City 26/01/19
Hull City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers 20/08/19
Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Hull City 11/02/20
Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Hull City 14/09/21
Hull City latest home form
Hull City have been on an unstable run of form at home most part of the season. However, they seem to be on an uprturn of form with their recent performance, having not lost in their last three matches. In their last five, they have won two, drawn one and lost two.
Hull City 1-2 Peterborough United 20/10/21
Hull City 0-1 Coventry City 30/10/21
Hull City 2-0 Birmingham City 20/11/21
Hull City 2-1 Millwall 27/11/21
Hull City 2-2 Bristol City 11/12/21
Hull City latest away form
The Black and Whites suffered a setback in their last away game, when they were defeated 2-1 by Nottingham Forest off the back of a three-game unbeaten run on the road in the Championship. In their last five away games, they have won two, drawn one and lost two.
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Hull City 03/11/21
Barnsley 0-2 Hull City 06/11/21
Cardiff City 0-1 Hull City 24/11/21
Reading 1-1 Hull City 04/12/21
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Hull City 18/12/21
Blackburn Rovers latest home form
Despite heavily losing to Fulham on November 3, Blackburn Rovers have been on a good run of form at home this season, that being the only loss in their last ten matches. In their last five games, they have won four and lost one, scoring 12 goals and conceding 8.
Blackburn Rovers 0-7 Fulham 03/11/21
Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Sheffield United 06/11/21
Blackburn Rovers 4-0 Peterborough United 24/11/21
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Preston North End 04/12/21
Blackburn Rovers 4-0 Birmingham City 18/12/21
Blackburn Rovers latest away form
The Rovers have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their last four matches. Their last away defeat came came to Queens Park Ranger. In their last five, they have won four and lost one, scoring 6 goals and conceding 3.
Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Blackburn Rovers 19/10/21
Derby County 1-2 Blackburn Rovers 30/10/21
Bristol City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers 20/11/21
Stoke City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers 27/11/21
AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Blackburn Rovers 11/12/21
Hull City news
Under ideal circumstances, manager McCann would also select the same starting lineup, but that is not going to be the case.
At a pre-match press conference, assistant manager Cliff Byrne did not mention the players that would miss the match due to coronavirus.
Blackburn Rovers news
Tony Mowbray is most likely to retain his starting XI for the Sunday’s game, as their are no fitness issues in his squad.
Goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski returned from injury last time and will retain his spot, while Reda Khadra is likely to get to be brought in ahead of Sam Gallagher.
Prediction and Odds
Despite their last away defeat, Hull City have been recently on an improved form, but with the situation at hand of their absenteesm due to coronavirus, they may fall short.
Blackburn have also been on a good form, and we could see them take advantage against their hosts and take the win on Sunday.
Odds: 1 2.80 X 3.10 2 2.20
Probable outcomes
Hull City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Hull City 0-2 Blackburn Rovers
Hull City 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Hull City 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
Hull City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
