Blackburn v Ipswich
These two sides have been coupled together just outside the play offs for most of the season. With just 7 games to got time is running out for a promotion charge and only 3 points will do if one of these clubs wants to sneak into the top 6.
Blackburn have taken the Championship mantle of draw specialists. At a time of the season when wins are at a premium, Rovers have really struggled to grind out results, although remaining unbeaten in their last 5 league games can give them confidence coming into the final month or so of the season. Many fans at Ewood Park will be delighted with the consistency shown over the course of the season. Blackburn may not have reached the heights of the Championship table, but after a slow start their longest losing streak is at three games which was suffered over 12 days in March. Rovers have not been out of the top 12 since early December and a top 10 finish would be a successful first full season in charge for Gary Bowyer, setting up a push for promotion next season.
Ipswich much like Blackburn have consistently found themselves just off the pace to be in the play off mix, but can look back in positivity at the season. With a bit of fortune they could easily see themselves in the top 6 and the injury to David McGoldrick was a massive blow. Daryl Murphy has continued to fill in for McGoldrick and scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Forest at Portman Road. It may sound like a broken record, but if Ipswich can put a winning run together through the final 7 games of the season they like several others have a chance of climbing up into the play offs. After this weekend’s game the Tractor Boys have just Bournemouth and Burnley to face out of the top half and have proved this season they can pull off a result against the league’s best teams. Christophe Berra has been a rock at the heart of the Ipswich defence that has kept 11 clean sheets and proved a set piece specialist netting 5 goals. Berra was nominated for the Championship Player of the Month award and is this game’s key man as he attempts to marshal Jordan Rhodes and the lively Rudy Gestede.
Previous meeting: 3-1 Ipswich win
Match odds: Blackburn 13/10 Draw 12/5 Ipswich 2/1
Score prediction: 2-0 Blackburn win
