Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray says he expects to face a 'wounded animal' when his side visits Swansea City this Saturday. The Swans, who sit second in the Championship, are looking to bounce back from a heavy 5-0 defeat to QPR last weekend. That result at Loftus Road, where Richard Kone scored a hat-trick and Jimmy Dunne added a brace, was a severe blow.
Mowbray's comments frame the 31 October fixture as a major test for both sides. "Yeah, it was really surprising to me," the Blackburn boss said of Swansea's recent loss. His team, tenth in the table, have won four of their last six games and arrive with momentum. Swansea's own recent form over the last five games shows three wins and two defeats, but they have lost their last two matches consecutively, including a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday 17 October.
For Swansea, the QPR result was a stark contrast to a strong season that has seen them in the top two all campaign. They have lost just three home league games since December 2025, a record that provides a foundation for optimism. Vitor Matos's side have 23 points from 12 games, a record of seven wins, two draws and three losses, and are just two points behind leaders Middlesbrough. Their recent form reads LLWWW, with three wins in the last five but back-to-back losses.
The immediate task is to respond at home. With 16 goals scored and 13 conceded this season, defensive solidity will be key against an in-form opponent. The club's top scorer is A. Idah with four goals in 11 appearances. The squad will need to find a cutting edge to overcome a Blackburn side sitting 10th in the table.
Kick-off at the Liberty Stadium is at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.
More detail at bbc.co.uk
