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Blackburn vs Derby LIVE commentary: Championship season begins as Rams mark second-tier return – kick-off time, team news and talkSPORT coverage
The new Championship season will get underway tonight when Blackburn take on Derby, live on talkSPORT 2.
The Rovers only narrowly avoided relegation to League One last campaign, with a shock final-day win over champions Leicester keeping them up.
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So manager John Eustace will want to see an all-round improvement from his side this time around as he begins his first full season in charge.
Eustace’s side take on Derby who are back in the Championship for the first time in two years after finishing second in the third tier.
Paul Warne has led the Rams back to where they belong following some serious financial struggles that threatened the club’s existence entirely.
And now they are looking to build on their success and prove they can still compete alongside those aiming for the Premier League.
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Blackburn vs Derby: What are the chances?
These two teams will be more than familiar with this fixture...
This will be the TENTH time that Blackburn and Derby have played each other in the opening game of a league campaign.
It makes this match the second-most-played season opener ever in English football history.
Only Everton and Tottenham have met more times with 11.
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Blackburn will be pleased to have seen this fixture announced though, as they boast a great record against the Rams.
They have won the last four meetings between the two, last losing back in March 2020.
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- Blackburn have won eight of their last 10 league games against Derby (D1 L1), including each of the last four in a row.
- Derby are winless in their last six away league games against Blackburn, losing the last five in a row (D1). Their last win at Ewood Park was in September 2014 under Steve McClaren (3-2).
Blackburn vs Derby: Team news
Blackburn XI: Pears, Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Travis, Tronstad, Dolan, Rankin-Costello, Hedges, Gueye.
Subs: Hilton, Batth, Weimann, Szmodics, Markanday, Buckley, Sigurdsson, Vale, Ohashi.
Derby XI: Vickers, Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Elder, Goudmijn, Osborn, Ozoh, Barkhuizen, Mendez-Laing, Jackson.
Subs: Luthra, Forsyth, Bradley, Nyambe, Adams, Fornah, Thompson, Collins, Brown.
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Blackburn vs Derby: What has been said?
Derby boss Warne has been speaking about the challenges of the step up to Championship football.
He said: "There are massive differences. One of the biggest things is athleticism.
"Everything is intensified, as it is again if you step up to the Premier League.
"From League Two to League One, I don't think there's a massive difference, but from League One to the Championship there is.
"Apart from Ipswich Town, in the last six years, we have found out that the teams that get promoted from League One often finish in the bottom six because the step-up is big.
"It's the athleticism, which is a massive part.
"When you go up, you have to try and sign as many players as you can who can play at that level."
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- Blackburn have won their opening league match in each of the last three seasons, having been winless in their previous 10 season openers before this (D4 L6).
- Derby lost at home to Wigan in their opening match of 2023-24 – they’ve not lost their opener in consecutive campaigns since 2003-04/2004-05.
Blackburn vs Derby: talkSPORT coverage
This Championship clash will take place on Friday, August 9.
Kick-off at Ewood Park is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of the game presented by Adrian Durham.
Commentary will come from Adam Bridge and former Liverpool Women's striker Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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marvelbet369.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest.
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football will be showing the game live too.
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