West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers meet at the Hawthorns on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Championship season on Saturday 9th August at 3pm. Just two points separated the two teams in the table at the end of last season, with Rovers finishing seventh, one point outside the play-offs. Find our match preview and best bets below.
Double Chance Blackburn (11/10 with Sky Bet)
Blackburn finished last season strongly, and they can carry that good form into the new campaign under Valerien Ismael. Rovers were unbeaten in all of their previous six (W4 D2), and were incredibly unlucky to miss out on a spot in the playoffs. West Brom failed to score in both league matches against Blackburn in the 2024-25 season, with the East Lancashire side emerging 2-0 winners in the Midlands, while the pair played out a goalless draw at Ewood Park.
Blackburn to Win & Under 2.5 Goals (7/1 with Sky Bet)
West Brom were defeated in five of their last eight matches at the back end of last season, with home defeats against Sunderland and Derby in that period. Blackburn, on the other hand, have a knack of grinding out results away from home. Six of their last seven away victories have been by a 1-0 scoreline, while the only other victory in that sample was the 2-0 win at the Hawthorns in February.
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How both teams go into West Brom vs Blackburn
West Brom’s 2024‑25 Championship campaign played out in typically gritty fashion, built on defensive solidity, sprinkled with moments of attacking flair, but ultimately missing out on a play-off berth. The Baggies collected 64 points from a 15 W‑19 D‑12 L record, landing them a respectable 9th-place finish. Their expected goal difference (+10.8 xGD) was closely aligned with their actual return (+10), having scored 57 and conceded just 47 – a reflection of a side that was disciplined and efficient, though at times lacking a cutting edge in the final third.
As for Rovers, John Eustace started the season in charge but left for Derby County in February. His successor, Valérien Ismaël, initially struggled to find consistency but eventually guided the team to a strong finish that fell just short of the play-offs. Tyrhys Dolan, Joe Rankin-Costello, Andreas Weimann and Danny Batth have all left the club, while Sidnei Tavares, Dion De Neve and Sean McLoughlin have been the most notable arrivals.
West Brom team news
Josh Maja was West Brom’s top goalscorer with 12 last season, but he didn’t play beyond January after picking up an injury which required surgery. The forward still isn’t back to full fitness and will need to be assessed before the meeting with Blackburn.
Blackburn team news
Hayden Carter picked up an injury in pre-season, which is a significant setback for Blackburn Rovers. The defender was withdrawn as a precaution against Accrington Stanley, and Valerien Ismael was hopeful it would not be serious; however, it’s been confirmed he will miss the start of the league campaign.
West Brom vs Blackburn head-to-head
West Brom failed to score against Blackburn last season, and the Baggies have won only one of their past five meetings with the club.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 12/02/25 | West Brom 0-2 Blackburn | Championship |
| 23/10/24 | Blackburn 0-0 West Brom | Championship |
| 13/01/24 | West Brom 4-1 Blackburn | Championship |
| 05/09/23 | Blackburn 2-1 West Brom | Championship |
| 15/02/23 | West Brom 1-1 Blackburn | Championship |