Blackburn promotion: Crucial Rovers fixtures in 2022/23 Championship run-in
Defeat in the FA Cup quarter-finals at the hands of domestic rivals Sheffield United means it's promotion or bust for Jon Dahl Tomasson's Blackburn Rovers to end the 2022/23 campaign.
The 1994/95 Premier League champions are hoping to return to the promised land for the first time since 2012 and are well-placed to qualify for the Championship play-offs at least.
Their FA Cup exit allows them to focus fully on the final stretch of the league season, with nine games separating Rovers from a potential play-off berth.
Here are the crucial Championship fixtures that await Tomasson's side after the international break.
Blackburn Rovers vs Norwich City
Norwich are currently just on the outside looking in, and there's a chance they don't complete their typical see-saw between top-flight and second tier this time around. The Canaries are three points adrift of Millwall in sixth.
Strangely, though, they've been better on the road than at Carrow Road this season and victory at Ewood Park would certainly embolden their cause and close the gap between themselves and Rovers.
Only four points separate the two sides as it stands, but Blackburn have played a game less and they were victorious in the reverse fixture by a 2-0 scoreline.
- 07/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Norwich City
Blackburn Rovers vs Coventry City
While no team has accumulated more points in their last six outings than Blackburn (15), Coventry's current nine-game unbeaten run has thrust them right into the play-off mix.
They sit eighth in the table and level on points with Norwich. However, Blackburn, who boast the second-best home record in the Championship, will fancy their chances of overcoming the Sky Blues at Ewood Park in this mid-April clash.
- 19/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Coventry City
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Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley
Burnley have been far and away the best side in the Championship this season, and they'll return to the Premier League as champions. They may even have the title wrapped up by the time the East Lancashire Derby rolls around.
This is a mammoth contest for Rovers, who'll likely have everything to play for against their fiercest rivals. The Clarets have been in imperious form this term and have lost just two games on the road.
Blackburn were humbled 3-0 in the reverse fixture back in November, and they've lost five-straight games against their East Lancashire rivals in all competitions. In fact, the two sides were both competing in the Premier League the last time Blackburn claimed victory in this fixture (28 March 2010).
- 25/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley
Blackburn Rovers vs Luton Town
Luton are three points ahead of Rovers having played a game more, with their impressive standing being built off their stellar away form. Only Burnley (36) have claimed more points on their travels than Luton (35) in the Championship this season.
Rob Edwards' side will have to be at their best if they're to compromise Blackburn's play-off charge and take points off them at Ewood Park - a feat achieved by only five teams this term - in Rovers' final home game of the season.
- 29/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Luton Town
Millwall vs Blackburn Rovers
Who knows how significant this final-day clash at The Den will be? However, the current table would suggest that there might be plenty to play for in the context of the play-offs race.
Millwall currently occupy the final play-off spot with Blackburn just a point ahead in fifth. They have played a game less, however.
The London side's home form is unsurprisingly formidable (joint fifth-best in the league) and Blackburn will not want to enter the final day needing to claim points at The Den.
- 08/05/23 - Millwall vs Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn 2022/23 Championship run-in fixtures
- 01/04/23 - Birmingham vs Blackburn Rovers
- 07/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Norwich City
- 10/04/23 - Huddersfield Town vs Blackburn Rovers
- 15/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City
- 19/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Coventry City
- 22/04/23 - Preston vs Blackburn Rovers
- 25/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley
- 29/04/23 - Blackburn Rovers vs Luton Town
- 08/05/23 - Millwall vs Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn's record in Championship play-offs
The first play-offs in the second tier took place in 1987 and Blackburn competed in three of the first four without success. They made the play-offs again in the 1991/92 season and were finally able to earn promotion to the newly-established Premier League after beating Leicester 1-0 in the final.
Remarkably, that was the last time Blackburn have competed in the Championship play-offs. After they were relegated from the top flight in 1998/99, Rovers earned automatic promotion back into the Premier League two seasons later.
After they were relegated a second time in 2011/12, they sunk to new depths and reached the murky waters of League One before they returned to the second tier in 2017/18. Mid-table finishes ensued before their promising eighth-place finish last season. They're now well primed to return to the Championship play-offs for the first time in over 30 years.
When are the 2023 Championship play-offs?
The Championship's regular season concludes on Monday 8 May oddly, with all the teams kicking off simultaneously at 15:00 (BST). The Football League is yet to release the official dates of the play-off semi-finals but these traditionally take place on the first weekend after the season's conclusion, which would be on 13-14 May.
The play-off pits the team that finished third at the end of the season against their sixth-placed counterparts while fourth and fifth battle it out for a spot in the final across two legs home and away.
When is the 2023 Championship play-off final?
The powers that be at England's Football Association have been kind enough to reveal that the Football League play-off finals will take place between Saturday 27 May and Monday 29 May. With the League One and League Two finals to be played in this window, the Championship showpiece is often saved for last, with an afternoon kick-off expected.