Championship: Rovers to extend Lambert run in Forest fixture
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | December 13, 2015
Blackburn Rovers v Nottingham Forest
- Championship
- Monday, December 14th
- Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
- Ewood Park, Blackburn
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Lambert looking to stay unbeaten
The Paul Lambert era at Blackburn Rovers has seen seven different players score, including two own goals, and the Ewood Park outfit are unbeaten in four Championship matches under the Scot.
Coral rate Rovers as firm 21/20 favourites to beat Nottingham Forest and move to within a point of the play-offs. Dougie Freedman’s visitors are winless on the road in three months, and that explains why they are 11/4 outsiders to get a result in Lancashire that would take them level with their hosts.
When these two teams last met in April, they shared the spoils in a 3-3 thriller, and another draw here is a 23/10 chance.
Scottish pair key to Rovers
Lambert is building up the confidence of compatriot couple Craig Conway and Jordan Rhodes, persuading the former to sign a new contract with Blackburn. “He’s done great. He has great energy on the pitch and off it,” the manager said of 5/1 anytime scorer chance Conway.
“He’s been really low maintenance, he’s performed on the pitch at a really high level. He’s playing well, I think he’s enjoying his football at the minute, but off the pitch it’s important you get a group of good characters and he’s certainly one of them.”
With three goals in six career starts against Forest, this represents a golden opportunity for leading Rovers marksman Rhodes to end a 10-week goal drought at Ewood Park. At 4/1 to net the opener, Lambert believes his star striker still has an international future with Scotland despite Gordon Strachan ignoring Rhodes’ claims.
“It’s not by any stretch of the imagination gone away from Jordan,” Lambert added of 25-year-old Rhodes. “I didn’t make my Scotland debut until 26, 27. He’s an absolutely predator in the penalty box.”
Forest forwards chipping in
The Reds have spread scoring responsibility around with Nelson Oliveira (2/1 anytime) joining centre back Matt Mills (15/2 in the same market) as joint-top scorer on four.
Dexter Blackstock made a swift impact off the Forest bench at Wolves last time out, meanwhile, and the target man is an 8/1 shot to repeat scoring last.
Away skipper Henri Lansbury has three in as many matches against Rovers from midfield, so should be considered an anytime punt at 4/1. Northern Ireland winger Jamie Ward bagged a brace at Ewood Park last term for Derby County, so is also worth a look in that market at the same odds.
With each of the last three meetings containing four goals or more, a match total of over 3.5 cannot be ruled out at 16/5. Punters can get that price on Blackburn winning this game with a handicap of being one behind to boot.
Related
Why not visit our Championship section with so much second tier action on over the festive and New Year period?
Coral’s top tip: Blackburn look a decent bet at 16/5 to overturn a one-goal deficit in the handicap market against Forest, with Lambert already bringing the best of out Rovers’ Scottish contingent.
