West Bromwich Albion host Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on 17 October 2026, a Championship fixture that puts two play off hopefuls side by side in the table despite very different routes here. West Brom sit sixth on 17 points and Blackburn ninth on 15, the gap narrow enough that three points either way reshapes both sides' ambitions for the autumn.
James Morrison took charge of West Brom on 30 April 2026, replacing Eric Ramsay, while Tony Mowbray returned to Blackburn on 5 June 2026 to succeed Michael O'Neill. No direct head to head exists between them in their current roles. Morrison sets his side up to be compact and hard to break down, Mowbray's Blackburn have kept the ball more than most sides in this division, with results to show for it.
West Brom arrive on the back of a mixed five game run, winning two and losing two of their last five, though Isaac Price and Aune Heggebø's late goals rescued a 2-1 win at Wrexham on 13 October after back to back defeats to Birmingham and Wolves. Blackburn have won three of their last four, the latest a 1-0 edging of Bristol City on the same date.
West Brom are without Mikey Johnston, who remains out with a long term fatigue fracture. Johnston's absence removes a runner who goes in behind defensive lines, which means Price and Jimmy-Jay Morgan will have to find that depth themselves rather than benefit from his movement dragging space open for others. For Blackburn, Adam Forshaw is a doubt with a hip issue that may require a procedure. Without him, Cantwell will need to do more of the ball carrying through central areas and Morishita's output from wide becomes more important rather than simply a complement to Forshaw's distribution.
Callum Styles leads the Championship in tackles and when he wins the ball back West Brom's full backs can advance knowing he covers the ground behind them. West Brom's default shape once possession is lost is a compact mid block, inviting the opponent forward before releasing Price in transition. Heggebø's instinct for arriving late in behind opposing defensive lines is what makes him dangerous and Morgan presses high and arrives into the box from wide to give Price a second option when play breaks down.
Blackburn keep the ball more than most sides in this division. Morishita and Cantwell combine on the left to create overloads, Afolayan goes in behind on the right and Morsy sits and protects. The problem for Mowbray without Forshaw is that Morsy covering central areas alone could leave gaps against West Brom's high energy press, particularly in the transitions where Price is at his most dangerous.
If Styles disrupts Blackburn's rhythm early, Price and Heggebø should find space behind the visitors' high defensive line and Mowbray's answer is Morishita's dribbling to pull West Brom's shape apart.
West Brom have won three of the last four meetings between the sides, keeping clean sheets in three of them, whereas Blackburn have not won consecutive away league games against West Brom since 1949.
Morrison's set piece organisation at the defensive end has improved noticeably since he took over, while Cantwell's whipped deliveries from wide free kicks are Blackburn's main source of danger from dead balls. A win lifts West Brom into the top five, Blackburn need it to stay within range of the automatic promotion places.
West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Blackburn Rovers. Styles' tackle rate keeps West Brom's defensive shape intact throughout and Price has the movement to exploit whatever gaps Blackburn leave in behind.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
