Northampton Town vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet League One.
Sixfields StadiumAttendance6,541.
Friday 22 December 2017 11:45, UK
Northampton will be without suspended midfielder Matt Crooks for the home game against Blackburn.
Crooks received his second red card of the season in last week's home win against Walsall and starts a two-match ban. Goalkeeper Matt Ingram remains doubtful due to the shoulder injury he sustained in last month's home draw against Bury so David Cornell could continue to deputise.
Forward Sam Hoskins is hoping to return to contention after an ankle injury, but midfielder Daniel Powell (hamstring) is still out.
Rovers could be boosted by the return of Peter Whittingham after a calf injury. He will be assessed but fellow midfielder Elliott Bennett is still absent through suspension.
Defender Darragh Lenihan is nearing a return after a foot problem. Forward Harry Chapman is also on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
These two sides have met four times in the league, but not once since April 1967. Northampton have won both their home fixtures 2-1, while Blackburn won their two home fixtures by an aggregate score of 9-1.
In addition to those four Football League fixtures, these sides have met six times in the FA Cup and League Cup - Northampton have lost six of those 10 total fixtures (W3 D1), whilst conceding an average of 2.7 goals per game (27 goals).
Since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took charge in early September, the Cobblers have scored in just half of their 18 league games, failing to score in three of their last five.
Blackburn Rovers have won each of their last six league games; the longest current run in the EFL, with no side yet to win seven in a row.