Match Pack: Blackburn vs Saints
Saints are back on the road this weekend, looking for a return to winning ways at Blackburn in the Sky Bet Championship. Get clued up with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Blackburn vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
Ewood Park
Saturday 6th April, 3pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Marc Perry, Steven Meredith
Fourth official: Jeremy Simpson
WHICH KIT WILL SAINTS BE IN?
Saints will be in their New Forest inspired third kit for the trip to Lancashire.
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans internationally can watch the action from Ewood Park by purchasing our Video Pass, although due to the 3pm blackout this service is not available to those in the UK and Ireland.
Fans in the UK and Ireland will, however, be able to purchase an audio pass for Saturday's fixture.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
After a painful night in Suffolk on Monday night, Saints will be looking to rebuild confidence and momentum when they visit Blackburn this weekend.
As far as confidence goes Saturday's hosts will certainly not be short of that, having hit five past Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday.
A win for Saints would see them continue to close the gap on the top three, whilst Blackburn could leapfrog both QPR and Swansea with a victory.
TEAM NEWS
Russell Martin confirmed Stuart Armstrong will miss the trip to Blackburn having suffered concussion during the defeat at Ipswich on Monday night.
Elsewhere James Bree joins long term absentees Ross Stewart and Juan Larios on the sidelines having been sent off at Portman Road.
For the hosts, left back Harry Pickering is a doubt for Saturday having missing the win over Sunderland with a hamstring injury.
Harry Leonard, Arnor Sigurdsson and John Fleck are the names ruled out for a longer period.
THE MANAGERS
John Eustace: "Every game is very competitive, every game gives different challenges and it’s very important that we look after ourselves and have a game plan on how we go up against every team, being ready and prepared.
“Southampton’s style of play is excellent and they play some really exciting football. They’re very well coached and we know it’s going to be a very difficult game, but it’s one we’re looking forward to."
Russell Martin: "I really like Blackburn. They play good football. Young, athletic, bring good energy. They’re doing some really good things and John is a really good guy.
"It will be a tough game on the back of their result and the back of ours. The challenge is to be the team we want to be wherever we want to go."
TOP SCORERS
Blackburn
Goals:
Sammie Szmodics 29
Arnór Sigurdsson 7
Gallagher, Dolan 5
Assists:
Andrew Mora 9
Gallagher, Brittain 6
Ryan Hedges 5
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 20
Ché Adams 13
Ryan Fraser 8
Assists:
Adam Armstrong 11
Stuart Armstrong 7
Ché Adams 5
ONES TO WATCH
Sammie Szmodics: No surprises for guessing who Blackburn's main man is, boasting 23 goals in 38 games (29 goals in all competitions).
The win over Sunderland saw the 28-year-old add two further goals and an assist to that tally, in a week where he was nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season.
Joe Aribo: Back into the starting eleven at Ipswich, the Nigerian assisted Ché Adams' equaliser and gained a WhoScored? rating of 7.27.
With Stuart Armstrong missing for the trip to Ewood Park, Aribo will be key to bringing the ball forward, hoping to replicate his return from the Birmingham City trip last month.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 47
Blackburn: 17
Draws: 10
Saints: 20
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
December 2023: Saints 4-0 Blackburn (Edozie, A Armstrong, Mara, Alcaraz)
April 2005: Blackburn 3-0 Saints
August 2004: Saints 3-2 Blackburn (Phillips, Svensson, Beattie)
February 2004: Blackburn 1-1 Saints (Phillips)
October 2003: Saints 2-0 Blackburn (Beattie, Griffit)
DID YOU KNOW?
- There have been over 2.5 goals in five of Saints' last six games.
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not travelling to Ewood Park? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints head to Blackburn.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
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