Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Blackburn Rovers
City welcome Blackburn Rovers to CCS for their second league game of 2022.
The fixture will take place on Saturday, January 15th, 2022 – 12.30 KO!
Cardiff City TV options
Cardiff City TV's live coverage of Saturday afternoon’s fixture against Blackburn will be available to watch for supporters worldwide!
With the fixture taking place at an earlier kick-off time, Cardiff City TV will be able to broadcast the match domestically as well as internationally.
Opposition Focus | Season so far
The Rovers will be in search of their first win of the calendar year, having dropped out of the FA Cup last time out at the hands of Wigan Athletic. Despite goals from Reda Khadra and Daniel Ayala, an injury time strike from Thelo Aasgaard gave the Latics a 3-2 victory.
In their last league game, Tony Mowbray’s men recorded a goalless stalemate with Huddersfield Town, taking their unbeaten run in the league to nine games.
Blackburn’s most recent victory came on December 29th with a 2-1 win over Barnsley, as Joe Rothwell and Ben Brereton Díaz got on the scoresheet. The Rovers’ impressive unbeaten sees them currently sit third in the Championship table, four points behind leaders Bournemouth.
Opposition Focus: Ones to watch
Blackburn’s strong position in the Championship table has been aided by the form of forward Brereton Díaz. The Chile international has netted 20 goals in 29 matches, averaging a goal every 116 minutes.
Goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski has also played a key part between the sticks. The Belgian shot-stopper has kept seven clean sheets so far this campaign. Kaminski joined the Rovers in 2020 from Gent and has since become a reliable feature in the side.
Another important figure this season has been Rothwell. The 27-year-old is formerly of Manchester United and has represented England at youth level. The midfielder has recorded eight assists this season, playing a huge part in Brereton Díaz’s goal tally, as well as netting on two occasions himself.
Bluebirds & Rovers | Club connections
There have been many players to have donned both a Rovers and Bluebirds shirt. In recent times, Junior Hoilett made 173 league appearances for City, netting 23 goals. The Canadian winger played a key part in securing promotion to the Premier League under Neil Warnock in the 2017-2018 season. Hoilett started his career at youth level for Blackburn, going on to play 81 league games for the club.
Another to represent both clubs is Craig Conway. The former Scotland international joined City in 2011 from Dundee United, winning the Championship in his second season with the club. The winger departed CCS in 2014 to sign for Blackburn, going on to make 178 league appearances for the Rovers.
Signing for Blackburn from the Bluebirds was also a route for Rudy Gestede. The striker scored seven league goals for City between 2011 and 2014. Also representing Benin at international level, Gestede’s spell at Blackburn was hugely prolific, netting 32 league goals in 60 appearances.
