Derby vs Blackburn Prediction: Eustace and Szmodics to haunt former employers?

All the cameras will be on John Eustace on Saturday lunchtime as his Derby side host his former club Blackburn Rovers (12:30 GMT, Sky Sports+). 

Derby will want to get back to winning ways after two defeats on the bounce while Blackburn are attempting to steer clear of the relegation zone. Below you can find my Derby vs Blackburn predictions featuring team news and betting tips.

Team News

Derby named a back four made up of only left-footed players in the defeat at Hull after injuries to Joel Ward and Dion Sanderson. To add to the woes, Callum Elder suffered a suspected fractured toe against the Tigers and was forced off at the break.

"Dion hadn't trained at all last week really,” Eustace said. "He stepped up on Saturday against Watford, and he kind of gave it his best shot on Saturday and was struggling a little bit. He had a scan on his calf yesterday. Joe Ward the same, he had a scan of his thigh yesterday as well.”

Football Odds

Meanwhile Blackburn’s new boss Michael O’Neill has ‘major doubt’ that Sondre Tronstad will be involved this weekend. The midfielder was taken off at half-time in midweek against Bristol City with a knock, but his manager has now confirmed it was a recurrence of an issue picked up at QPR earlier this month.

Adam Forshaw and Taylor Gardner-Hickman are the two most likely candidates to replace him, although Moussa Baradji is another option having featured in midweek. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Derby vs Blackburn Odds

Derby are the favourites to win this one, priced at 6/5 to take all three points. A draw is 21/10 and a Blackburn win can be backed at 12/5 on Saturday.

In terms of goals, over 2.5 is 6/5, BTTS is 5/6 and Patrick Agyemang is 9/2 to open the scoring for the Rams.

Over 2.5 goals @ 6/5

I know these two might not be the most entertaining teams in the division, but I do think this game gives us a great chance to see over 2.5 goals at a big price. Blackburn have seen over 2.5 goals in two of their last three games, scoring three at QPR in their last away game.

Given Derby are struggling with numbers and quality in their back four I think this could be a high-scoring encounter, with the Rams seeing three goals or more in three of their last five.

Sammie Szmodics to score at anytime @ 21/10

Here I am, writing about narrative yet again. Sammie Szmodics scored his first goal for Derby last time out in the 4-2 defeat to Hull, and he’s started the last two games as a number 10. 

The man who won the Championship’s Golden Boot in the 2023/24 season, scoring 27 goals for Blackburn Rovers, will come up against his former side here, and he’s a great price to find the net anytime. We all know how good he can be in front of goal, and I think he’s likely to go on a run of goals now, starting with another here against Rovers. 

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