This Week's Opposition: Blackburn Rovers

Jake Smith takes a look at Pompey's midweek opponents at Ewood Park.

After FA Cup misery on Friday night, it’s time for the return of Championship football for John Mousinho’s men, who embark on another trip to Ewood Park for the rearranged clash with Blackburn Rovers.

MANAGER

In the dugout for Rovers is former Coventry City and Watford midfielder John Eustace.

After retiring as a player, he served as manager of Kidderminster Harriers for 2 years until 2018, when he became the assistant manager of Queens Park Rangers - He also had a brief spell as caretaker manager there in 2019.

Eustace then made the move to Birmingham City for his first permanent managerial role in the Football League in July 2022.

The 45-year-old was appointed head coach of Blackburn on a 2-and-a-half-year deal last February, just a few months after being sacked at Birmingham.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch on this occasion is midfielder Todd Cantwell, who began his career at Norwich City at Under-10 level in 2008.

He would go on to make his first-team debut a decade later in January 2018 and then rack up 129 appearances for the club across 6 seasons before joining Scottish outfit Rangers in January 2023.

Blackburn announced the signing of their new number 8 on a 3-year deal in August and he has so far registered 1 goal and 3 assists from 19 league appearances.

TOP SCORER

With 5 league goals to his name this season, Japanese forward Yuki Ohashi is Blackburn’s leading scorer.

The 28-year-old has however been injured recently, picking up an ankle knock in a 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road on New Year’s Day. Scans revealed that he would be missing for about a month, so is ruled out for the meeting with the Blues this week.

CURRENT FORM

Sitting nicely poised in 7th place, Blackburn are on course to record a far better finishing position than they managed in 2023/24, when they finished 19th and narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season.

Despite currently sitting just outside of the Play-Offs , Rovers are winless in their last 5 league matches, last tasting victory on December 14th when they beat Luton Town by 2 goals to nil at Ewood Park.

In their last outing on Saturday, John Eustace’s side were 1-0 winners away at Middlesbrough in the Third Round of The FA Cup.

Can Portsmouth return to winning ways and make the most of this game in hand they have on the sides around them?

With full coverage of the game at Ewood Park, Pompey Live returns this Wednesday evening from 7pm with Jake Smith reporting from the press box at Blackburn.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!