Accrington Stanley vs Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Both looking to commence their pre-season schedules with a morale-boosting victory, Accrington Stanley and Blackburn Rovers clash astatine Wham Stadium for a affable connected Saturday afternoon.

The Reds are preparing for a 4th consecutive run successful League Two, whilst the Rovers are hoping to equine a playoff propulsion nether the tutelage of an experienced Championship operator.

Match preview

Since finishing 23rd successful the 2022-23 League One table, Accrington Stanley person endured 3 consecutive years of lower-half placements successful League Two, their worst drawstring of results since betwixt 2012 and 2015.

The Reds were the explanation of midtable mediocrity successful the 4th tier past clip out, sitting 25 points down the apical 7 and 14 points up of the relegation portion by the decision of the 46-game term.

However, 4 caller signings this summertime person raised expectations of a top-half propulsion nether the enactment of caput manager John Doolan, with the 57-year-old welcoming Tamworth prima Stefan Mols to Wham Stadium.

The Spanish midfielder volition beryllium incapable to nexus up with past season's apical goalscorer Paddy Madden aft helium returned to genitor nine Chesterfield, however, starring playmaker Shaun Whalley remains aft signing a one-year declaration hold successful May.

Accrington invited Championship broadside Blackburn to Wham Stadium connected Saturday day to commence their pre-season plans, earlier further affable clashes with Bradford City, Chorley, Bury and Sheffield Wednesday.

After an awesome tally of conscionable 2 defeats successful their past 9 matches of the 2025-26 season, Blackburn Rovers avoided relegation from the Championship with Michael O'Neill successful impermanent charge.

The Northern Irishman departed Ewood Park astatine the extremity of the season, though, with second-tier adept Tony Mowbray backmost for his 2nd stint with Rovers aft guiding them for a five-year play betwixt 2017 and 2022.

Following a lacklustre 20th-placed decorativeness successful 2025-26, determination is sizeable anticipation that the erstwhile Premier League champions tin vie successful the apical fractional of the Championship this clip around, bolstered by the imperishable signing of Moussa Baradji from Yverdon.

Blackburn question to Accrington to play a pre-season affable connected Saturday day for a fifth  twelvemonth running, with goals from Yuki Ohashi and Makhtar Gueye securing a 2-1 triumph for the visitors past summer. 

Mowbray's troops are acceptable to instrumentality their summertime plans to Portugal for a fixture with Nottingham Forest connected June 22, but look the Reds and non-league outfit Longbridge Town successful England earlier an Algarve adventure.

Team News

One of Accrington's 4 summertime signings truthful far, goalkeeper Louie Moulden could marque his debut for the hosts successful betwixt the sticks connected Saturday afternoon.

After an 11-goal play astatine Tamworth successful 2025-26, Spain-born Mols volition beryllium hopeless to marque a bully archetypal content astatine Wham Stadium this weekend.

Improving Doolan's options astatine the backmost of the pitch, Accrington person signed defenders Joe Anderson and Tom Moore, with some successful enactment for debuts against Championship opposition.

Signing a caller Blackburn declaration implicit the summer, youngster Kristi Montgomery volition beryllium looking to impressment caput manager Mowbray successful pre-season, with the midfielder aiming to go a first-team regular.

After a coagulated archetypal play astatine Ewood Park, right-back Ryan Alebiosu is striving to physique connected a 'dream start' to his Rovers career, buoyed by his planetary acquisition with Nigeria astatine the Africa Cup of Nations past term.

The Championship visitors are without the services of Ryan Hedges aft his astonishment departure from Blackburn astatine the extremity of past season, with a fig of 2nd tier and League One clubs present keen connected signing the wide man.

Accrington Stanley imaginable starting lineup:

Moulden; Love, Rawson, Anderson, Sass; Grant, Coyle, Sinclair, Whalley; Mooney, Walton

Blackburn Rovers imaginable starting lineup:

Toth; Atcheson, McLoughlin, Carter; Alebiosu, Montgomery, Forshaw, Baradji, Ribeiro; Ohashi, Morishita

We say: Accrington Stanley 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Bolstered by a quartet of summertime arrivals, Accrington could beryllium acceptable to outpouring a pre-season astonishment astatine Wham Stadium connected Saturday afternoon.

That being said, Blackburn person superior prime successful their ranks and should person capable to debar decision this weekend.

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