Blackburn v Northampton preview
Friday 26 January 2018 10:51, UK
Amari'i Bell could make his Blackburn bow in the Sky Bet League One home clash with Northampton on Saturday.
The defender is set to be in the matchday squad for the first time since joining Rovers from Fleetwood last week. Corry Evans, Marcus Antonsson, Ben Gladwin and Darragh Lenihan are making good progress in their respective recoveries from injury and nearing returns to action but it is not expected any of them will feature in this match.
Peter Whittingham (calf) and Harry Chapman (hamstring) remain sidelined.
John-Joe O'Toole came through Northampton's win over MK Dons without any problems after complaining of a hip problem so is fit for the trip. Aaron Pierre (thigh) and Aaron Phillips (thigh) are both likely to be missing for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side.
Daniel Powell (hip), George Smith (ankle) and Leon Barnett (Achilles) have all been doubts but are edging closer to fitness. Jack Bridge is also awaiting his first appearance after signing from Southend earlier this month.
Opta stats
Blackburn haven't faced Northampton in a home match since September 1974, winning 1-0 in a League Cup tie.
Northampton have only won once away at Blackburn in their entire history (P6 W1 D0 L5), a 1-0 victory in September 1965 in a League Cup tie when the Cobblers were a top-flight side.
Tony Mowbray has never beaten Northampton in all competitions (P3 W0 D2 L1), while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has drawn three of his matches against Blackburn.
Blackburn are unbeaten in each of their last 16 league games (W10 D6); the longest current undefeated streak in the top four tiers of English football.
Bradley Dack has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 13 league appearances for Blackburn (8 goals, 2 assists), after just three in his first 13 of the season (3 goals).
After an 18 game goal drought in the league, John-Joe O'Toole has scored in each of his last three appearances.
Prutton's prediction
They have huffed and they've puffed but Blackburn have finally hauled themselves into the top two in Sky Bet League One, and you would think that Tony Mowbray's side would go on to win automatic promotion from here.
Their respective league positions would suggest this is a home banker, but Northampton have finally turned a corner under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and three wins on the spin have seen them clamber out of the relegation zone. That being said, I think Rovers will edge this one.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
