won 32 of 86 settled GS picks · +101.6u profit · this pick: Will Lankshear to score @ 2.90 · 3 units
⚡ Why this pick
Scored twice in two Middlesbrough appearances
Expected to start upfront again
Blackburn defence can be got at
Away side playing with confidence
DeepSeek's recent picks in this market
08-22Lincoln City-PortsmouthAdrian Segecic to score@ 4.40✓
08-22Birmingham City-Bristol CityAugust Priske to score@ 2.60✕
08-21Real Betis-Real SociedadOrri Oskarsson to score@ 3.75✕
08-21Arsenal-Coventry CityBukayo Saka to score@ 5.00✓
08-17Cardiff City-WrexhamYousef Salech to score@ 3.80✕
Blackburn Rovers
4-2-3-1
● Confirmed
9
⚽↓69′
Gudjohnsen
21
↓61′
Afolayan
10
⚽↓80′
Cantwell
25
↓61′
Morishita
8
↓69′
Morsy
31
Montgomery
3
Pickering
15
McLoughlin
6
Atcheson
2
Alebiosu
22
Toth
Bench (10)
Jayden Fevrier ↑61′ · Mathias Joergensen ↑61′ · Yuki Ohashi ↑69′ · Adam Forshaw ↑69′ · Hayden Carter ↑80′ · Aynsley Pears · Yuri Ribeiro · Sidnei Tavares · Jake Garrett · Lewis Miller
Coach · Tony Mowbray
Match Preview
Blackburn Rovers vs Middlesbrough Match Preview
AI-written editorial preview · updated 2026-08-20 14:33 UTC
Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough meet at Ewood Park
Saturday afternoon at Ewood Park sees Blackburn Rovers host Middlesbrough for their second fixture of the Championship season. With both sides looking to establish early momentum, the match promises a tactical battle between two clubs with distinct ambitions for the campaign ahead.
Expected lineups and team news
Both managers appear to have a clean bill of health heading into the weekend, with no high-impact absences reported for either squad. Blackburn Rovers are expected to field Balazs Toth in goal behind a defensive line of Ryan Alebiosu, Tom Atcheson, Sean McLoughlin, and Harry Pickering. The midfield engine room should feature Adam Forshaw, Kristi Montgomery, Ryoya Morishita, and Todd Cantwell, with Oladapo Afolayan and Andri Gudjohnsen leading the attack.
Middlesbrough are expected to counter with Radek Vitek in goal, protected by a back four of Callum Brittain, Luke Ayling, Adilson Malanda, and Neto Borges. The midfield trio is anticipated to consist of Abdoulaye Kante, Sebastian Berhalter, and Leo Castledine. Up front, Morgan Whittaker is expected to flank a forward pairing of Will Lankshear and Kyle Joseph, providing a potent attacking threat for the visitors.
Middlesbrough’s promotion hunger
Manager Kim Hellberg has been vocal about the club's mindset following their recent playoff experiences. Rather than viewing past setbacks as a negative, the Middlesbrough staff have framed them as a source of collective hunger. The team is approaching this early-season clash with an aggressive mentality, signaling a desire to return to the high-pressure environment of a promotion push immediately.
Blackburn’s path to the second matchday
Blackburn Rovers arrive at this fixture following a hard-fought 2-2 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their opening Championship match. This result followed a successful trip to Burton Albion in the EFL Cup, where they secured a 2-1 victory. Having navigated a varied pre-season schedule, the Rovers will be looking to leverage home advantage to secure their first league win of the new term.
The head-to-head dynamic
Recent history between these two clubs suggests a tight, tactical affair. Their most recent Championship encounters, held in March and December of last year, both ended in scoreless draws. Middlesbrough did manage a 2-0 victory at Ewood Park in April 2025, but Blackburn responded with a 1-0 FA Cup victory at the Riverside Stadium earlier that same year, highlighting the fine margins that often define this fixture.
Key personnel to watch
Much of the focus for the visitors will be on Morgan Whittaker, who has been a consistent creative force for Middlesbrough recently. His ability to contribute directly to goals makes him a primary threat that the Blackburn defence will need to contain. For the hosts, the creativity of Todd Cantwell in the middle of the park will be vital if they are to break down a well-drilled Middlesbrough side and dictate the tempo of the match.
