Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Swansea City have a slight advantage, playing at home. However, given their recent form, that assessment seems questionable—especially after their latest defeat.
Swansea City
Swansea City suffered a 1:3 away defeat to Stoke City, squandering a lead after scoring in the 61st minute. Losing on the road in the Championship isn’t uncommon, but failing to pick up points at home against Sheffield Wednesday (0:1) was more concerning. Those back-to-back defeats led to Luke Williams’ dismissal. Interim manager Alan Sheehan will take charge against Blackburn Rovers, but will the "new manager bounce" really apply when Sheehan has been an assistant since the start of the 2023/24 season?
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers sit in fifth place and have also made a managerial change. John Eustace struggled to secure a firm grip on a top-six spot, so David Lowe stepped in. The 59-year-old has been with the club for nearly 14 years, working his way up from the academy to caretaker manager. So far, he’s made an instant impact, guiding Blackburn to back-to-back clean-sheet wins—2:0 away at West Bromwich Albion and the same scoreline at home to Plymouth Argyle. That mini-revival has given them a four-point cushion in the play-off race.
Swansea City vs Blackburn Rovers Prediction
David Lowe has significantly more experience within the club than Alan Sheehan, and his squad is simply stronger. Given the managerial situation and form, backing Blackburn with a neutral handicap seems the safest bet.
