West Brom vs Blackburn Prediction: Rovers to leave the Hawthorns happy

The new Championship season is here and Blackburn Rovers will be looking to get their quest for promotion off to the perfect start when they head to The Hawthorns to face West Brom on Saturday (15:00 BST, live on Sky Sports +).

Just two places and two points separated these two teams last season, with Rovers finishing in seventh position and narrowly missing out on a place in the play-offs.

Team news

West Brom are without the services of Daryl Dike and Josh Maja, who are both sidelined through injury, but there are expected to be debuts given to summer arrivals Aune Heggebo and Nat Phillips.

George Campbell also joined the club in this transfer window and he is in line for a place on the bench.

Football Odds

Blackburn have four players currently in the treatment room, with Adam Forshaw, Hayden Carter, Aynsley Pears and summer signing Sidnei Tavares unavailable.

Lewis Miller, a recent arrival from Hibernian, could be handed his debut, along with the likes of Sean McLoughlin and Axel Henriksson.

West Brom vs Blackburn Odds

West Brom are the 9/10 favourites to pick up all three points, with the draw priced at 12/5 and Blackburn the 18/5 outsiders to claim the spoils in the West Midlands.

Blackburn to win @ 18/5

Albion are under new direction this season following the appointment of Ryan Mason, but there has been little movement in the transfer window and there is a worry the Baggies are lacking strength in depth.

Heggebo, Phillips and Campbell are the three players to have arrived at The Hawthorns, but the club have seen Ted Cann, Semi Ajayi, John Swift and Grady Diangana depart.

Kyle Bartley's retirement announcement on the eve of the campaign has reduced Mason's options and Saturday's encounter looks like a prime opportunity for Blackburn to strike.

Rovers ended last season in strong form, going unbeaten in six matches of which they won four of those, while they collected seven points from their last three away fixtures.

Head coach Valerien Ismael has made some shrewd signings this summer and his side look capable of getting the better of West Brom, who have won just one of the last seven meetings against Blackburn.

Yuki Ohashi anytime goalscorer @ 18/5

After scoring 10 goals for J1 League outfit Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2024, Japan international Yuki Ohashi made the switch to Blackburn last summer and he enjoyed a solid debut campaign, netting 10 times in all competitions.

The 29-year-old forward scored in two of his last three away appearances in the 2024/25 campaign and he will be eager to continue that strong form on the road when heading to The Hawthorns.

Ohashi has been in solid form in pre-season, netting three times, so it would be no surprise to see him on the scoresheet against the Baggies.

Offers

We will be Top Price on Southampton to beat Wrexham with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for the comparison. (Available from 07:30 Saturday)

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