Pick of the stats - Blackburn v Sunderland
- Published
Blackburn's defeat by Millwall at the weekend ended a run of six consecutive victories in the Championship.
Sunderland are one place above John Eustace's side but are six points ahead of them prior to the midway point of the season.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in their past four league games coming into the trip to Ewood Park.
Blackburn have won three of their last five league games against Sunderland (L2), winning 5-1 in the most recent meeting in April.
Sunderland won 3-1 at Ewood Park in the Championship last season – they last won consecutive league visits to Blackburn in September 1975.
Blackburn Rovers have won one of their last 14 league matches on Boxing Day (D6 L7), beating Rochdale 2-0 in League One back in 2017.
Sunderland have won three of their last four league games on Boxing Day, having lost four in a row between 2014 and 2017.
Sunderland's Alan Browne has scored in four of his last five Championship appearances on Boxing Day, doing so for Preston in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023. Indeed, in Championship history (2004-05 onwards), only Jobi McAnuff has more Boxing Day goals (5).