Blackburn vs Southampton Prediction: Saints need to respond

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to build on their 5-1 hammering of Sunderland last time out as they look to extend their five-point gap from the Championship relegation zone. They welcome Southampton to Ewood Park on Saturday (15:00), who will be looking to bounce back from their last-gasp defeat at Ipswich Town on Monday.

This is a game that will have huge repercussions at both ends of the table and this has played into our Blackburn vs Southampton predictions, with both sides boasting two of the best attacking players in the division. Below, we also provide you with team news and match odds for this second-tier clash.

Match Odds

Blackburn are 11/4 to win this contest, or a theoretical chance of 26.7%. Southampton are valued at 5/6, implying a probability of 54.5%. The draw can be backed at 3/1, giving the stalemate a 25% chance of landing.

Both teams to score is valued at 4/9 and over 2.5 goals is the same price.

Rovers' Sammie Szmodics is the leading marksman in the league with 23 goals, having added two to his tally at Sunderland last time out. He is marketed at 13/2 to score first and 9/5 to score anytime.

Southampton's Adam Armstrong, a former player at Ewood Park, is just behind him on 20. He himself is priced at 9/2 to score first and 13/10 to find the back of the net at any time.

Team News

Following the injury to Rovers' left-back Harry Pickering, Ben Chrisene is expected to come into John Eustace's side to deputise. Veteran defender Kyle McFadzean should return to the matchday squad after completing his three-game suspension. The hosts have no other fresh personnel issues heading into this one, which against a side like the Saints, could be a huge boost.

As for the visitors, they are having to deal with a suspension of their own as James Bree will serve the first of a three-match ban for the red card he picked up at Portman Road on Monday. This should see Kyle Walker-Peters return to the starting XI, which will give the home team a lot to think about given how adventurous he is.

Wide man David Brooks could also be in contention to start in Lancashire, as is full-back Ryan Manning, who could come in to replace natural centre-back Jack Stephens.

Adam Armstrong & Sammie Szmodics to score anytime @ 4/1

With the Championship's top scorers going to battle on Saturday, we think that both players will play huge roles in this match. As such, we fancy both of them to continue their excellent campaigns and get on the scoresheet together.

Armstrong has been integral to Southampton's promotion push with his 20 goals, but he has also dabbled in creating them too, providing 11 assists for his fellow Saints. Saturday's game is sure to be emotional for him as he returns to Ewood Park for the first time since leaving Rovers in 2021.

He spent three years at Blackburn and was one of the best-performing attackers in the Championship when he left them, so the supporters know just how dangerous he will be lining up against them.

Lucky for them, Szmodics has had the season of his life. His 23 goals is incredible considering that he isn't a natural forward, and we're at a point now where if Blackburn score, you're just expecting to see his name pop up.

If Rovers do avoid relegation this season, it will largely be down to this man's contributions and with six games left to play, there are more goals to be had for the Republic of Ireland international.

Southampton and both teams to score @ 15/8

Right now it does seem like it will be a long shot for the Saints to achieve automatic promotion, but what keeps that particular fire burning is the fact that they have games in hand on their rivals.

It doesn't take away from the fact that they are 12 points off the pace, but they will also be hoping for some slip-ups from their rivals, hence why their defeat at Ipswich was so devastating for them.

Manager Russell Martin will look for an immediate response at Blackburn, and given the hosts' defensive frailties, having leaked 66 goals this term, his attacking players could be in store for a productive afternoon.

We think the Saints should get back to winning ways here, but the free-scoring Szmodics could throw a spanner in the works and make it a challenging victory to grind out.