Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United Prediction: Tight contest expected at Ewood Park

Blackburn host Sheffield United in a game between two of the top six teams in the Championship at Ewood Park in one of Saturday's early kick-offs (12:30, Sky Sports+).

Rovers are sixth in the table after a 1-0 defeat at Watford last week, while the Blades went into the weekend in fourth place after a 2-0 home success over Stoke last week.

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Blackburn will be without defender Hayden Carter, who has had knee surgery, as well as Scott Wharton, so Danny Batth should continue to partner Dom Hyam at the back. Yuki Ohashi and Tyrhys Dolan are in contention to start further forward.

Sheffield United defender Anel Ahmedhodzic is suspended after receiving five yellow cards, so Jack Robinson could come into the side. Gustavo Hamer can return after suspension and Tyrese Campbell is in line to partner Kieffer Moore in attack again after they both scored against Stoke.

Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United Odds

Blackburn are slight underdogs at home at 7/4, with Sheffield United available at 13/8 and the draw priced at 9/4.

Over 2.5 goals in the match is priced at 11/10, with under 2.5 at 4/6 and it's 4/5 that both teams score in the match and 10/11 for at least one team to fail to find the net.

Draw @ 9/4

Home advantage has counted for a lot in the Championship so far this season and both Blackburn and Sheffield United fit the pattern of teams who have achieved much better results at home than on the road.

None of the top nine in the table suffered more than one defeat in their first six home games and Blackburn's Ewood Park record is almost flawless with five wins and one draw in front of their own fans.

They have scored 12 times in those games while conceding only three times. West Brom became the first team to deny them there as their most recent home game ended in a goalless draw.

Rovers have won only one of their last five matches overall, however, losing three successive away games at Coventry, Plymouth and Watford.

The Blades have also collected 16 points from a possible 18 at home but have two wins, two draws and two losses in away league games.

They have not won, or even scored, in their last three road contests, with a goalless draw at Portsmouth followed by narrow defeats on tough trips to Leeds and Middlesbrough.

There is little to choose between the teams in the odds and with Blackburn's form having dropped off a little, the best value bet could be the draw, which has the best odds of the three main outcomes but looks to have a strong chance in what should be a close contest.

1-1 correct score @ 5/1 

Chris Wilder sets up his team to be hard to beat on the road and there have been just nine goals scored in total in Sheffield United's six away league games.

Their last three road trips have produced only three goals, with the Blades being shut out each time, and both teams to score has not landed in their last 10 games.

Just two goals have been scored in Blackburn's last three home matches, all netted by John Eustace's side, and it's hard to see either side scoring more than once in this game.

Both teams are missing key defenders, though, with Rovers' centre-back Hayden Carter having suffered a long-term knee injury while the Blades' highly-rated Anel Ahmedhodzic is suspended, and it may be worth backing each side to find a way through the opposing defence once in a 1-1 draw.

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