With the Hatters set to face Blackburn Rovers in the Sky Bet Championship tomorrow afternoon, here’s all you need to know about our opponents.
The away visit to Ewood Park will certainly be a tricky task with Blackburn in a decent vein of form having won their last two games on the bounce.
With a comfortable 2-0 win against Millwall and a 2-1 away victory against Reading, Blackburn are currently unbeaten in September, something Luton will be hoping to change.
In August, Rovers also won twice in succession as they beat Middlesbrough and Hull within a matter of days.
With four wins, a draw and three losses, Blackburn sit comfortably in 10th place.
THE MANAGER
Tony Mowbray was appointed as Blackburn Rovers manager in February 2017, having previously managed Coventry City, Middlesbrough, Celtic, West Brom and Hibernian.
His managerial career started with Ipswich Town in 2002, taking charging on an interim basis after hanging up his boots two years prior.
Mowbray turned out for Boro, Celtic and the Tractor Boys during playing career.
Since taking over at Ewood Park, Mowbray couldn’t help Blackburn survive the drop down from Championship to League One but took them straight back up in 2018 with a second placed finish.
Last season Rovers finished 15th – a position they will no doubt be looking to build on this campaign.
THE ONES TO WATCH
Blackburn have scored the least amount of goals by any side in the top ten (nine goals), but have certainly made them count, with their decent defensive record seeing them on average concede a goal a game.
Bradley Dack signed for Blackburn in 2017 from Gillingham and has proved to be an inspired signing. The 25-year-old made his 100th appearance for the club in their 2-1 victory against Reading last weekend, in which he also scored his 40th goal.
Midfield creativity will also be offered by Lewis Holtby, who joined Blackburn on a free transfer just over a week ago.
The 29-year-old – who has three caps for Germany – was unattached after leaving Hamburg in the summer and has played for Schalke, Fulham and Tottenham in his career thus far.
Blackburn bolstered their forward options in the summer transfer window when acquiring Sam Gallagher from Southampton.
The 24-year-old is yet to get off the mark this season in the Championship but alongside Adam Armstrong, the pair could prove to be a strong partnership.
HISTORY
Blackburn Rovers have plenty of silverware to brag about, especially their remarkable Premiership title in the 1994/95 season.
They won the league with 89 points, a single point more than second place Manchester United, who beat them to the title the season before.
Prior to that, they won the first division twice in 1912 and 1914.
Rovers are six times winners of the FA Cup, winners of the Football League Cup and also the Full Members’ Cup.
THE GROUND
Home to Blackburn Rovers since 1890, Ewood Park is one of the more historic English grounds and has a capacity of 31,367.
The ground’s record attendance was way back in 1929, when they attracted over 60,000 fans to watch their FA Cup sixth round match against Bolton Wanderers.
THE STATS
- This is the first time in Luton’s history they will play consecutive matches against former Premier League champions.
- The two sides last met at Ewood Park in 1981 in the old English second division – Luton won 1-0.
- The first time Town played against Blackburn was back in 1937 and Luton were 4-1 winners on the day.
- During both teams’ promotion into the Championship, the Hatters and Blackburn lost just six times in League One.
- Matty Pearson began his football career with Blackburn and signed a professional contract with them in 2011.
- Of Luton’s current squad, Ryan Tunnicliffe has also played for Blackburn during a loan spell in which he made 17 appearances, scoring once.
- Blackburn’s top scorer this season is Bradley Dack with four goals, Luton’s James Collins also has four to his name.
- Blackburn have kept a clean sheet in three out of their four home Championship matches this season.