Blackburn hope to get their automatic promotion hopes back on track with the visit of challengers Queens Park Rangers

Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers haven’t looked the same since losing Ben Brereton Diaz to injury, and the visit of Queens Park Rangers provides concern.

The Chilean scoring sensation provided a terrifying presence for opposition defenders, having racked up 20 goals this season.

Queens Park Rangers travel to Ewood Park after a confidence-boosting 2-0 win over Blackpool, and this may be a test to prove whether Blackburn can compete without Diaz’s inspired goalscoring form.

Mowbray has urged other squad members to step up to the goalscoring plate with their Stoke born striker out with an ankle ligament injury.

Diaz has scored 44% of the former Premier League Champions’ goals this season, and they have failed to win or even find the net in their last five games.

Rovers’ North-East born boss gave a rallying call after his side’s defeat away to Sheffield United.

He said:

“I don’t want to get hung up on how we haven’t scored a goal for how many games now.

“I look at the performance levels and always have done. With Brereton Diaz, we have to accept it.

“Adam Armstrong is no longer with us, Brereton Diaz isn’t going to be with us for a long time this season, and so somebody has to step up.

“Whether it’s a header from a corner, a scrappy goal like theirs (Sheffield United), a penalty kick, we have to find a way to score goals and win football matches.”

Sam Gallagher is the closest to Diaz in terms of number this season, but the former Southampton youth academy graduate has never been prolific, with his best season’s total culminating in 11 goals.

German midfielder Reda Khadra and winger Tyrhys Dolan both sit on four goals this season, but otherwise, the contribution from others is sadly lacking, which may hinder Rovers’ promotion push.

The Ewood Park-based side are set to be boosted by the return of skillful winger Ian Poveda and attacking midfielder Bradley Dack.

Dack has experience in scoring goals from a deeper position, and it is hoped that Poveda can use his trickery to unlock the opposition’s defences.

QPR are again challenging for a place back into England’s top flight after a few seasons of struggle.

Resilience has been a factor in the R’s performances recently after having Dion Sanderson sent off in their most recent fixture against Blackpool, which they recovered from Josh Bowler’s equaliser for Luke Amos to sneak the three points.

Mark Warburton’s team have been without their leading marksman in Australian-born Scottish international Lyndon Dykes.

The powerful target man provides a strong outlet for the London side, and the R’s have missed his presence up front.

It’s perhaps telling that Warburton chose not to use a striker in the game against Blackpool, possibly alluding to the fact he may feel he cannot rely on the experienced pair of Charlie Austin or Andre Gray.

Both sides play with wingbacks, which has become a formation much preferred by clubs recently due to the width and potential overlap it creates with centre backs moving to support those on the flanks.

A win for Blackburn could see them move into third place and overtake Saturday’s visitors depending on the Huddersfield result.

QPR are only two points behind Bournemouth in the automatic promotion place, and a win at Ewood Park may see the Hoops move up to the second spot.

Rovers have triumphed 25 times in the meetings between the two sides, whereas QPR have only won 17 of the clashes.

The managers of both teams will be preparing their players for a matchup, which could have big ramifications on the Championship playoff picture.

Blackburn’s last game at Ewood Park was called off, but weather conditions in Lancashire means this is unlikely to happen to Saturday’s clash

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