Blackburn Rovers host Luton Town on Saturday afternoon looking for a win that could take them within touching distance of the playoff positions and build on their recent run of good form.
Having only lost one of their last five games, the Riversiders go into this fixture sitting in 10th place in the Championship league table but only six points behind where they are hoping to be in May.
Tony Mowbray’s men have been free scoring this season and have bagged the most goals in the league with 40 so far whilst also boasting the league’s joint top scorer in Adam Armstrong.
Armstrong has a more than decent support act with Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliot providing ammunition alongside him while the recent return of Bradley Dack has also delighted the Rovers fans.
Mowbray will be without the services of Bradley Johnson on Saturday after the former Derby and Norwich midfielder picked up a hamstring injury. He is expected to be missing for a couple of weeks alongside Daniel Ayala, Derrick Williams and Scott Wharton.
German international Lewis Holtby has resumed training but is unlikely to be involved from the start as Mowbray would prefer to ease him back into action after a thigh injury.
As for Luton, the Hatters are sitting nicely in mid-table and manager Nathan Jones will be happy after last season’s escape from relegation. Inconsistency has dogged Jones’ side this season and they haven’t picked up back to back wins since the opening two games of the season.
While a playoff push is not completely out of the question, most Luton fans will be pleased with the ten point cushion above the relegation zone and a continuation of this form in the second half of the campaign will lead to a more comfortable final few months.
Luton should have Martin Cranie available for this clash at Ewood Park while Welsh international Joe Morrell has also resumed training.
The reverse fixture finished in a 1-1 draw in Kenilworth Road back in November and while Luton won’t complain too much if Saturday sees a repeat, Blackburn really need to win this one if they’re to make an impression in the upper reaches of the Championship table.
This is as exciting a Rovers team as we’ve seen in years and now is the perfect opportunity to push on and either try and crack the top six this season or give themselves the platform to push on next season. Attacking football has been the mantra this season and in quite a low scoring league, this attitude may just propel Rovers back to the big time.
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