Blackburn Rovers have enjoyed a solid start to this season’s Championship, finding themselves in 10th place with eight games played.

Their most recent result, a 1-0 victory against bottom-of-the-league Fulham, ended a run of 12 league matches without a clean sheet – a sequence that dated back to a 0-0 draw with Yeovil Town in April.

Alongside their 13 points, Rovers have scored and conceded 14 goals; meaning their fixtures average of total of 3.5 goals per game.

Blackburn have already faced all three clubs that came down from the Premier League; drawing against Cardiff City on the opening day of the season and losing to Norwich City at Carrow Road in addition to their victory at Craven Cottage.

Last season, Rovers boasted three wins and two draws against the sides relegated from the Premier League, including two victories over Wigan Athletic – a side they have already beaten this year too.

In front of goal, Blackburn are no longer relying solely on the consistency of Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 56 league goals for the club in 96 matches - with the Scotsman’s four goals this season being matched by Rudy Gestede.

The former Cardiff striker, who managed 13 in 27 games in 2013/14, will have to play exceptionally well to keep up with his striking partner, who has scored 40 per cent of his side’s league goals since joining from Huddersfield Town in an £8m deal in 2012.

Despite their efficiency in front of goal in the Championship, Rovers succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat against Scunthorpe United in the League Cup first round; a tournament they have failed to record a win in since 2011. Blackburn certainly favoured matches at Ewood Park last season, with 11 of their 19 wins coming in front of their home crowd.

Against Watford, Rovers managed a 1-0 win at home, as well as a dramatic 3-3 draw at Vicarage Road, which required an injury time equaliser from Gestede in order to salvage a point.

In their last eight meetings with the Golden Boys, Blackburn have recorded four wins and three losses, and have not been defeated at home by the Hornets since 2000, in a 4-3 win in the old First Division.

Manager Gary Bowyer has a number of players ruled out through injury, including Paul Robinson, Jason Lowe, David Dunn, Tommy Spurr and Chris Brown .

Tom Cairney and Lee Williamson are both fit after coming off injured against Fulham, whilst Ryan Tunnicliffe returns having been ineligible to face parent club Fulham.

Starting XI vs Fulham (20/9/14): Steele; Hanley, Baptiste, Olsson, Duffy; Williamson, Evans, Marshall, Cairney; Rhodes, Gestede