The new Championship season gets underway later this week and a Blackburn top half finish looks a value bet.
Rovers fell just four points short of getting into the top 12 last term, but have made some eye-catching signings.
Tony Mowbray’s men have recruited Stewart Downing and Bradley Johnson on free transfers this summer.
Although both are north of 30 now, their experience and status as proven performers in the division are big pluses.
Blackburn have also gone back to Southampton to sign former loanee Sam Gallagher. He scored 11 league goals at Ewood Park three seasons ago and was a bright light in a difficult campaign.
Rovers were then relegated, promoted back into this league and finished in mid-table under Mowbray last term.
These arrivals blend youth and experience, which broadly reflects the squad of footballers built at Blackburn.
In attack, for instance, Gallagher joins other promising younger forwards Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton.
These attacking options sit alongside veteran striker Danny Graham who turns 34 in August. He has scored 12 or more league goals in each of the last three seasons for Blackburn.
Blackburn top half finish worth a punt
Rovers star Bradley Dack now has competition in midfield with Johnson. Downing, meanwhile, is a more than able replacement for fellow winger Craig Conway.
With the Blackburn defence marshalled by Charlie Mulgrew, who offers a dead ball and set piece threat, there’s lots to like about Rovers.
On last season’s form, they don’t have much to find on the top 12. The 11/8 on offer with Coral for a Blackburn top half finish looks value.
Some sides more prominent in the betting have questions to answer. Preston North End, for example, lost their top scorer for last term when Callum Robinson left for Sheffield United.
Swansea City, meanwhile, have really trimmed their squad back and now got an unproven manager in Steve Cooper.
Sheffield Wednesday are without a boss at the time of writing following Steve Bruce’s departure to Newcastle United.
Stoke City finished below Rovers in the Championship table last term and scored 19 fewer goals. They have more to find on last season’s form, yet are a shorter price.
That just doesn’t make sense. A Blackburn top half finish is thus overpriced in relation to teams in and around them.
Bet of the Day: 11/8 with Coral, Blackburn top half finish in the EFL Championship.
