Blackburn travel to take on Stoke City on Friday night. They will be looking to strengthen their hold of a Championship play-off spot. Blackburn currently occupy the fourth position in the Championship league table,, while Stoke are down in the 16th position. Blackburn will be looking to keep their push for a playoff position and maintaining their recent good form. I am giving Blackburn a win in this match, and in a worst possible scenario a draw. These are my reasons:

Firstly. Blackburn are in a very good form presently. They have won 5 and drawn 1 of their last 6 matches. And one of these victories was a win against the Premier league side Leicester in the FA Cup tournament. They also won the second-placed Sheffield United last time out. They are currently beaming with confidence. Although they are some 9 points off the automatic promotion places, they are pushing for it. And they would be okay to settle for the playoff places as compensation if they miss out of the automatic promotion places. Stoke on the other hand are not doing so well currently, having lost 3 of their last 6 matches. They sit at the 16th position eleven points off the relegation and twelve points adrift of the playoff places. They do not have much to play for.

Secondly. Away form of Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn do not seem to be fazed when playing away from home. They have managed to have either won or drawn their last 6 away matches. They won two and drew four. Stoke meanwhile lost their last two matches at home. They will be looking to bounce back from that though seeing that they have had good home record before the losses. Blackburn have found it relatively easy to win at home compared to away. This is why I am giving them a win or draw in this encounter with Stoke.

Despite the wide difference in their league positions, it will be a tight match. But I am backing Blackburn Rovers to come out of this one with a win or a draw over Stoke City.