West Bromwich Albion vs Blackburn Rovers

11th February

Steve Bruce takes charge of his first Albion game at The Hawthorns on Monday night when former Baggies boss Tony Mowbray brings his Blackburn Rovers side to town (ko 8pm).

Bruce watched his new club produce a promising start at Sheffield United on Wednesday night, but the Baggies fell to a 2-0 defeat courtesy of two Billy Sharp strikes.

Visitors Blackburn are enjoying a terrific campaign and are dreaming of dining at English football’s top table once again having spent the last nine seasons outside of the Premier League.

Mowbray’s men arrive in B71 sat inside the top four places in the Sky Bet Championship having picked up an impressive 53 points from their 31 games, with Monday’s clash shaping up to be a crucial one for both teams in the race for promotion.

The Baggies are back in front of the Brummie Road End on Monday night

How to follow the game

Supporters not joining us at The Hawthorns can listen live to Baggies-biased commentary on WBA TV Matchday.

Live coverage starts from 7.45pm. If you aren’t a current subscriber, you can purchase a match pass for £2.50 which includes a full match replay on Tuesday, February 15. Click here to buy a match pass.

Overseas supporters won’t be able to watch live as the game is being broadcast in the UK. Overseas supporters will however, automatically receive access to the live commentary as part of their subscription.

To listen live, open the WBA App and look for the red LIVE button. Alternatively, click here.

Opposition

Blackburn Rovers are this season's surprise package in the Sky Bet Championship.

Having finished 15th twice and 11th in the previous three years, not many would have expected them to have amassed 15 league victories and 53 points from their 31 games played so far this term.

But Tony Mowbray, who was at the helm at The Hawthorns from October 2006 until the end of the 2008/09 season, has put together a team capable of challenging for promotion to the Premier League - a division they've been out of since their relegation in 2012.

Chile international forward Ben Brereton Diaz has bagged 20 goals already, proving himself to be one of the most impressive performers in the Championship and a man Albion's defenders will certainly want to keep quiet.

Despite Rovers' lofty league position, Mowbray will be determined to see his team improve on recent results.

Monday's guests have won just one of their last five games, losing the last two to Swansea and then Nottingham Forest without scoring. Blackburn are goalless in three matches and have scored just two in their last seven league fixtures.

Mowbray is hoping for a happy return to The Hawthorns with Rovers

Classic clash

The Baggies beat Blackburn 3-0 in a Premier League fixture in April 2012.

Martin Olssen turned the ball into his own net early on to give Albion the lead before second-half strikes from Marc-Antione Fortune and Liam Ridgewell secured the points.

Did you know?

Steve Bruce has faced Blackburn Rovers 30 times as a manager, winning 13, drawing seven and losing 10.

There are only two teams Bruce has managed more games against since he stepped into the dugout for the first time in 1998 - Fulham (31 matches) and Arsenal (32 matches).

The boss is targeting victory in his first game at The Hawthorns

LV BET's latest odds

Albion come in as favourites at 9/11(1.82) to win their Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers.

The Baggies have won four out of the last seven fixtures against Rovers, scoring a total of 10 goals in the process. LV BET have Bruce's men at 29/4 (8.25) to win the game 2-0 and at 41/20 (3.05) to score a goal in both halves.

A repeat of Albion's previous 2-1 victory at Ewood Park is also available at 15/2 (8.50).

Register here and use the code WBAxLVBET to claim a £5 No Deposit Bonus and a chance to win WBA hospitality tickets! 18+ begambleaware.org. Terms apply. Odds are subject to change.

Read all about it

An informative edition of Albion News is available for Monday night's clash with Blackburn Rovers.

Recently-appointed gaffer Steve Bruce outlines his thoughts on the Baggies ahead of his home bow on Monday, new CEO Ron Gourlay has an update for fans following his transition at the club, and target man Andy Carroll is the star interview, where he talks about turning luck in Albion's favour in the remaining 16 games of the season.

14th February

Albion drew 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on Monday evening.

Following a first-half without any goals, both teams saw efforts disallowed after the interval.

Neither side managed to find a winner despite chances at both ends, and the Sky Bet Championship spoils were shared in B71.

Steve Bruce’s men are back in action on Saturday with a trip to Luton Town.

Bruce - who was introduced to the Albion faithful ahead of kick-off – made two changes to his starting XI, opting to bring in Jayson Molumby and Callum Robinson for Jake Livermore (suspended) and Grady Diangana.

Blackburn made the better start in B71 and were first to threaten when Semi Ajayi had to deflect a whistling John Buckley half-volley around the post.

But the Baggies grew into the game and created a few decent chances inside the opening half-hour. Karlan Grant diverted a fantastic Darnell Furlong cross off-target, Andy Carroll saw a low shot saved and Furlong, who was heavily involved in Albion’s attacking moves, hit the side-netting with a free-kick.

It remained goalless at half-time despite two more opportunities for the hosts before the break, as Mowatt smashed a volley at a Blackburn defender and Matt Clarke headed over.

Albion began the second period brightly and thought they had taken the lead on the 50-minute mark, Clarke sending a diving header home in front of the Birmingham Road End only to see the assistant referee’s flag raised for an offside in the build-up.

Rovers then had the ball in the net themselves through Ben Brereton Diaz’s side-footed effort, but he was adjudged to have been offside too.

Captain on the night, Sam Johnstone, parried a deflected strike during a good Blackburn spell – remaining alert soon after to keep out Brereton Diaz’s shot.

And the England international stood firm again with 15 minutes remaining to deny substitute Reda Khadra.

The Baggies ended the match on top yet couldn’t find their goal, Carroll and Adam Reach both agonisingly having headers cleared off the line in the final stages.

Albion: Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Clarke, Townsend; Molumby (Gardner-Hickman 80), Reach, Mowatt; Robinson, Carroll, Grant (Diangana 63).

Substitutes: Button, Kipré, O’Shea, Castro, Tulloch.

Attendance: 20,680

Monday 14th February 2022 - 20:00