Relegation Dogfight: Blackburn Hosts Sheffield United in Crucial Bottom-of-the-Table Clash
A pivotal EFL Championship clash sees Blackburn Rovers host Sheffield United at Ewood Park, with both teams desperate for points to escape the relegation zone. Currently sitting 22nd and 23rd respectively, a victory is crucial for either side to kickstart their season and move away from the threat of League One football. Expect a fierce encounter as stakes are incredibly high for both struggling clubs.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This EFL Championship encounter between Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United is a genuine relegation six-pointer. The EFL Championship format dictates that the top two teams at the end of the season are automatically promoted to the Premier League, while teams finishing from 3rd to 6th compete in play-offs for the final promotion spot. Conversely, the bottom three teams are relegated to League One. [1, 6, 34] Currently, Blackburn sits 22nd in the league with 7 points, while Sheffield United is just below them in 23rd with 6 points, both deeply entrenched in the relegation zone. [8, 9, 10, 11, 24] For the home side, Blackburn, they have yet to secure a league win at Ewood Park this season, recording one draw and three losses. [14] The team desperately needs to perform in front of their home crowd and reverse their fortunes. Sheffield United, on the other hand, comes into this match with renewed confidence after a crucial 1-0 victory over Watford in their last outing, which ended a dismal run. [10, 11, 14] However, their away form remains a significant concern, having lost five of their last six away games. [9] The outcome of this match will directly impact both teams' league standings and their battle to avoid relegation, making it a highly charged contest.
Recent Form
Blackburn Rovers are in a poor run of form, currently on a four-game winless streak in the Championship, having collected just one point from their last four fixtures. [19] Their most recent outing resulted in a 2-0 defeat away to Coventry City. [8] Adding to their struggles, Blackburn remains winless in league matches at Ewood Park this season, with a record of one draw and three losses. [14] Sheffield United, however, comes into this match with some renewed optimism after securing a crucial 1-0 victory over Watford in their last game, snapping a previous dismal run. [10, 11, 14] Despite this morale boost, their away form is still a significant concern, as they have lost five of their last six matches on the road. [9]
Key Players & Injury News
Blackburn Rovers are grappling with significant injury concerns. Captain and key midfielder Todd Cantwell is highly unlikely to feature due to a knee injury sustained against Stoke City and exacerbated during the international break, which led him to miss the Coventry City match. [15, 18, 19, 21] Defender Lewis Miller is also a doubt after suffering an awkward fall against Coventry City. [15, 19] Other reported absentees until late October 2025 include Jake Garrett (leg injury), Hayden Carter (hamstring injury), M. Baradji (foot injury), and Adam Forshaw (muscle injury). [4] In Cantwell's absence, players like Augustus Kargbo and Ryan Hedges will be crucial for providing offensive output. [37] Sheffield United's midfield has also been severely affected by injuries. Key midfielder Gustavo Hamer is sidelined with a knee ligament injury suffered in training, and Tom Davies is also out with a calf problem. [20, 23] Long-term absentees Oliver Arblaster and Tahith Chong are nearing a return but are still expected to be unavailable for this fixture. [22] With these significant absences, Callum O'Hare, who scored in their recent victory, will be vital for creative play and goal threat, alongside their top scorer from last season, Tyrese Campbell. [8, 26, 31]