Before the 2017/18 League One season kicked off, Blackburn Rovers were seen as huge favourites to secure immediate promotion back to The Championship following their relegation last season. However, it has been a remarkably poor start to the season for Rovers under the management of Tony Mowbray, and they are in desperate need of three points to get their season underway.
Blackburn Rovers began the campaign with a tricky away fixture at Southend United which they eventually lost 2-1 despite mounting a second-half comeback. However, it was the 3-1 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers the week after that has really caused concern at Ewood Park that this season may not be as straightforward as many people thought.
As for Bradford City, they have been knocking on the door of The Championship for several years now and have made another strong start to this campaign. They have maintained a 100% record so far with wins over Blackpool and Gillingham and will fancy their chances of picking up another three points against Blackburn at Valley Parade on Saturday.
We take a look at five players who could potentially have a significant influence on the outcome of Saturday’s match between these two promotion candidates.
3. Bradley Dack
Mowbray recognised that he needed to add players who have proven that they can perform in League One this summer and by acquiring the services of the Bradley Dack, he certainly did that. The 23-year-old midfielder’s development has stuttered in the last year, but if he can reach the heights of his 2015/16 campaign with Gillingham again this season, then Blackburn have a superb player on their books.
He scored 13 goals in 40 league appearances for the Gills during that campaign, and it remains his most successful return to date. He was named on the substitute’s bench for Blackburn’s 3-1 defeat to Doncaster last week, and he will now be looking to force his way into Mowbray’s starting line-up for the trip to Bradford.
