Blackburn vs. Hull Betting Tips: Rankin-Costello to find the net at Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers take on Hull City live on Sky Sports on Saturday evening in the Championship. We’ve called on our own Lancashire lad Anthony Eadson to provide us with his best bets for the game from Ewood Park.

It’s been a frustrating month for Rovers fans with four games without a win in all competitions. That includes a heart-breaking 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarter-final, which would have seen them visit the new Wembley Stadium for the first time. Despite this winless run, Rovers remain just inside the play-off places heading into the weekend and do have a game in hand on many of the sides around them.

Hull on the other hand do not have much left to play for this season. The Tigers currently sit 16th in the table on 52 points. Liam Rosenior’s side managed a 1-0 home win against Millwall last time out, but are winless in seven consecutive away matches in the Championship (D4 L3)

The first selection I’m backing on Saturday night is for Ben Brereton Diaz to give away at least one foul in the match, which is available at just below even money at 10/11, with either Betfair or Paddy Power.

Despite looking set to make the switch to Spain in a move to Villarreal this summer, Diaz remains desperate to help this team, which I genuinely believe he cares about, reach the play-offs.

This was evident on Monday afternoon when Diaz gave away three fouls in the final third against Huddersfield. The Stoke-born Chilean has given away 12 fouls in his last 15 appearances, and with this bet landing in eight of those, I think this looks a nice bit of value, considering just how important this game is for the home side if they are to make the top-six this term.

I’ve also had a bit of loose change on Rovers’ roaming right-back Joe Rankin-Costello to find the net anytime at 22/1. Again this is available with the Betfair Sportsbook or Paddy Power and is a price that may well shorten considering what happened in JRC’s last outing.
 

Rovers dominated the game against Huddersfield in their 2-2 draw on Monday having 80% possession, but the most remarkable stat from the game was that right-back Costello, managed seven shots on target. One of those seven resulted in a goal, and with license to roam and get into the final third, I think he looks too big here to get on the scoresheet again. I also wouldn’t put anyone off the 225/1 for him to score two or more goals against Hull on Saturday.