‘Massive’ – Championship experts share Stoke City vs Blackburn Rovers score prediction, Mark Robins factor is crucial

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Play-off chasers Blackburn Rovers head into Wednesday’s Championship clash against Stoke City looking to end a three-game winless run.

Like their opponents, relegation-threatened Stoke will also be desperate to claim all three points after failing to win any of their last four matches under Mark Robins. Points are vital for both sides in their respective quests of promotion and survival.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
5	West BromWest Brom	37	13	17	7	47	33	14	56
6	CoventryCoventry	37	16	8	13	52	48	4	56
7	Bristol CityBristol City	37	13	15	9	47	40	7	54
8	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	37	15	8	14	57	48	9	53
9	BlackburnBlackburn	36	15	7	14	41	37	4	52
10	Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday	37	14	9	14	53	58	-5	51
11	NorwichNorwich	37	12	13	12	59	52	7	49
12	WatfordWatford	36	14	7	15	46	50	-4	49

Blackburn succumbed to defeat against their former manager, John Eustace, when they lost 2-1 to Derby County on Saturday. That result did Stoke no favours in their bid to survive in the Championship, either.

That’s because the Potters came back from 2-0 down to be level with Coventry City in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday lunchtime only to throw it away in the 97th minute and lose 3-2 against Robins’ former side on an emotional day.

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EFL experts predict more dropped points for Valerien Ismael in Blackburn’s trip to Stoke

Stoke have won four of their last six league games against Blackburn Rovers, keeping a clean sheet in three of those wins in the process, which includes a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture in November. Although, there are likely to be changes with Ismael now in charge.

However, Blackburn have won four of their last six away league games against Stoke, winning this exact fixture 3-0 last season as well. The two have not had any consistency when they play one another in recent times.

Stoke will now return to the bet365 Stadium where they have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent times, having won two, drawn three, and lost one of their six home games under Robins of late.

Speaking via the Championship Check-In podcast, Benjamin Bloom and EFL pundit Sam Parkin have had their say on how the game will unravel on Wednesday.

Bloom said: “I suppose the saving grace for Stoke is that Luton and Cardiff are playing each other. So, there is going to be something there for them.

“I think if they win, it’ll only be a single goal. No one has played a nil-nil, have they? I’m going to play that. Stoke 0-0 Blackburn. Not much help for anybody.

“But, given that Cardiff are playing Luton, it’s another point on the board and probably some progress.

Parkin responded: “Yeah, I think this is a really big game. Because it’s one that will be earmarked by both.

“Especially after Blackburn lost at Derby; a game where they would have been really confident about taking something.

“So, it becomes massive for them if they are going to make it into the play-offs.

“I just think, after that second half rally [against Coventry], at home, that this is one Mark Robins will be putting all his energy into getting maximum points.

“I’ll take the 1-0 Stoke.”

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Stoke have the perfect man in charge in Mark Robins

Irrespective of what happens for the rest of the season, Stoke need to break the hiring and firing cycle and place their faith in a man who knows a thing or two about rebuilding a side, and Robins wants changes this summer.

That’s despite the fact they are without a win from their past four Championship matches with Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Coventry their third loss in that run.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
17	PortsmouthPortsmouth	36	11	9	16	44	57	-13	42
18	Oxford UnitedOxford United	36	9	12	15	37	53	-16	39
19	Hull CityHull City	36	9	10	17	36	45	-9	37
20	Stoke CityStoke City	36	8	12	16	36	50	-14	36
21	CardiffCardiff	37	8	12	17	40	61	-21	36
22	DerbyDerby	37	9	8	20	37	49	-12	35
23	LutonLuton	37	9	7	21	34	60	-26	34

Robins knows Stoke cannot place emphasis on anything other than results as the fight to stay in the Championship currently, which continues in a game to a Blackburn side with teething problems under Ismael.

Stoke have been a club that have had many neutrals scratching their heads for closing in on a decade, having yet to finish in the Championship top half since their relegation.