Robbo’s Picks: Hull City vs. Blackburn Rovers – Why both teams will be up for the challenge tonight

Here is a quick look at one of tonights games in the Championship involving two teams that I have worn the colours of!

When I was ten-years-old I got to follow in the footsteps of many goalkeepers I had grown up standing on ‘Bunkers Hill’ with my late grandad watching, Tony Norman, Ian Hesford the like by joining the Tigers academy aged nine.

In fact, I was brought up watching the Hull City team of the mid 80s, which included Garry Parker, Frankie Bunn, Billy Whitehurst, Billy Askew, Andy Saville, Peter Skipper to name a few.

City had a top side those days although playing a slightly different brand of football to today.

I remember clearing snow off the pitch one year at Boothferry Park in exchange for a couple of tickets to the Tigers’ next game should it go ahead.

Their opponents tonight, another team very close to me personally, is Blackburn Rovers where I spent a large part of my career, seven years in fact.

Six of those being extremely happy years. My last 18 months – that season left a somewhat sour taste which I have talked openly about many times but looking back at my time at Rovers I have nothing but fond memories of the football club, it’s supporters and the fantastic people who work there.

Anyway enough reminiscing and onto tonights game.

City have made a decent start to the season picking up four points from their first three games and progressing in the EFL Cup losing only once on the opening day away at Swansea.

There is a lot of unrest around the club still and I was surprised to read some pundits tipping City to be in the bottom three come the end of the season. I personally don’t think they will as I believe their squad is just about strong enough to stay up.

Coming off the back of a decent away point at Brentford at the weekend I think The Tigers will be a tough test for Tony Mowbray’s men tonight. Rovers got their campaign underway finally on Saturday with a hard fought home win against Middlesborough.

Blackburn look strong up front and it was very important that they kept hold of Bradley Dack this summer as well.

Tony Mowbray is a well liked man around Ewood Park and rightly so it looks like he has put this sleeping giant and lets not forget former Premier League champions back on a stable footing.

I think it will be a game that both teams will think they can win and both managers will set their respective teams up to go out and try to achieve just that.

That in mind I think it’s a nailed on BTTS night and I’m going to sit on the fence and say …. 2-2.

Our Fan Partners TalkBlackburn give us their predicted starting XI.

*all odds are subject to change