Blackburn vs Oxford Prediction: 7/2 says U’s pour on the agony for Rovers

Oh, Blackburn Rovers. For a second time this season, Valerien Ismael’s side come into an Ewood Park fixture in the Championship having seen their last one abandoned. On Tuesday, it’s Oxford United against whom they hope to at least complete 90 minutes (19:45 GMT, live on Sky Sports+).

Rovers were 1-0 up against a pretty pathetic Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday before the weather – or, more to the point, the pitch – had the final say. So my Blackburn vs Oxford predictions will have to take some of that into account. They’re below with the latest team news and Betfred’s full match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Rovers boss Ismael may well have to mix things up once again after losing Adam Forshaw to a first-half muscle problem on Saturday.

Like Forshaw, George Pratt didn’t make it to the early end. The Rovers youth product, who is just a month removed from a loan spell with National League North outfit Chorley, was subbed at the break.

Ryan Hedges’ availability is also in question after the Welshman picked up an injury against Ipswich Town in a rearranged fixture last Tuesday.

Scott Wharton and Sondre Tronstad are both still out.

The biggest miss for Gary Rowett and Oxford has to be Cameron Brannagan. The inspirational skipper has a calf issue, while Przemyslaw Placheta missed the trip to Swansea City on Saturday with a similar problem.

Brodie Spencer is nearing a return from a foot injury, but there is little word on when Matt Phillips might be back from a thigh strain.

Blackburn vs Oxford Odds

Despite their poor home record, Blackburn are quoted at 8/11 to record only a second win at Ewood Waterpark this season.

You can get 7/2 about an away victory for the U’s, while it’s 23/10 for the draw.

It’s 10/11 for both teams to score and 4/5 for that not to be the case.

Today's Football Fixtures

Oxford to Win @ 7/2

Having been at Ewood on Saturday, I can’t say I was overly impressed with Blackburn even if they were leading by the time the pitchforks and rollers were forlornly brought out.

Ismael has just about kept Rovers’ heads about water this term – pun intended. And on Tuesday they face a really handy Oxford side who have enough about them to stick in games and work from there even if they’re not packed with quality.

Oxford are pretty dismal, sitting in 21st place of what has pretty much become a 23-team league given Wednesday’s issues. But then Rovers have also been awful at home all season so far, so it’s hard to imagine this will be a free-flowing masterpiece of a game.

But given the general dissatisfaction of the home crowd, I can see the visitors making the most of an edgy atmosphere to win this one late on.

Oxford are 7/2 for the three points, which I believe is incredibly generous at its implied 22.2% probability.

First-Half Correct Score: 0-0 @ 8/5

Can lightning strike in the same place three times? Maybe not, but rain sure can.

It didn’t take a great deal for the Ewood surface to become pretty sodden on Saturday. Take it from somebody who was there.

So the odds of there being a full 90 minutes of action just three days on, and with Storm Bram primed to hit the west of Britain, have to be a long way shy of 100%.

The good news is that Tuesday’s rain is set to fall largely before kick-off, so as long as they get started we may just get a full game in. But it’s still worth looking at a half-time market regardless.

Blackburn have just seven first-half goals in 18 (completed) matches this term, so don’t expect loads of action in the opening stanza. It’s 8/5 for a half-time deadlock, which seems more than reasonable.

This could well be won by the team with the most effective waders.

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