Blackburn vs Cardiff
Blackburn edge Cardiff in tight tussle
Two first-half strikes set Blackburn on course before Cardiff's reply after the break.
Blackburn secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Cardiff in the Championship, thanks to early goals from A. Guðjohnsen and T. Cantwell in the first half. Cardiff pulled one back through C. Robinson shortly after the break, but it wasn't enough to salvage a point. Fipster's prediction of a home win was spot on, though the exact scoreline proved a bit too ambitious.
Outcome probability
Blackburn and Cardiff face off in what promises to be an engaging fixture in the regular season. Both sides have had mixed fortunes so far, but the form and stats suggest Blackburn will have the upper hand in this encounter.
Match factors
Blackburn's attacking options limited by injuries
Multiple confirmed outs in attack reduce scoring depth, impacting goal distribution
Blackburn's midfield defensive strength vs Cardiff's attack
Montgomery's high tackle and interception rates could disrupt Cardiff's creative midfielders
Blackburn's superior passing from defense
McLoughlin's passing accuracy and volume exceed league averages, aiding build-up play
O. Afolayan's recent goal-scoring form
Afolayan's multiple goals and high ratings suggest he will be key in Blackburn's attack
Cardiff's Moylan and Salech driving attack
Moylan's and Salech's recent goal and assist contributions make them focal points for Cardiff's offense
The context
Blackburn currently sit 16th in the league with 8 points from 7 games, while Cardiff are just below in 19th with 7 points from 8 matches. Both teams have struggled for consistency, but Blackburn's home form and attacking potential give them a notable edge.
Key insights
- S
S. McLoughlin
Blackburn
McLoughlin's exceptional passing accuracy and volume help Blackburn control the game from the back.
Championship 26/27Passing accuracy 86-87%, ~70 passes/game
- K
Kristi Montgomery
Blackburn
Montgomery's tackling and interceptions disrupt Cardiff's midfield creativity, giving Blackburn a defensive edge.
Championship 26/272+ tackles per game, above average interceptions
- O
O. Afolayan
Blackburn
Afolayan's recent goal-scoring form and high ratings make him a key attacking threat for Blackburn.
Championship 26/27Multiple recent goals, rating 8.21
- J
J. Moylan
Cardiff
Moylan leads Cardiff's attack with goals and assists, central to their offensive efforts.
Championship 26/27Multiple goals and assists, rating up to 8.67
Analysis
Blackburn's midfield and defensive stability, led by Kristi Montgomery and S. McLoughlin, provides a solid foundation. Montgomery's tackling and interceptions could disrupt Cardiff's rhythm, while McLoughlin's exceptional passing accuracy aids Blackburn's build-up play. Offensively, O. Afolayan's recent goal-scoring form is a key factor, likely to trouble Cardiff's defence. Cardiff's attack, spearheaded by J. Moylan and Y. Salech, poses a threat but may struggle to break down Blackburn's organised setup. The predicted halftime score of 2-0 reflects Blackburn's ability to establish control early, with Cardiff pulling one back later but unable to prevent a 3-1 fulltime result.
Key facts
- 1.Blackburn are 16th in the league with 8 points from 7 games (W2 D2 L3).
- 2.Cardiff are 19th with 7 points from 8 games (W1 D4 L3).
- 3.Blackburn's home win probability is very high at 93%.
- 4.The most probable fulltime score is Blackburn 3-1 Cardiff.
- 5.Halftime score prediction is Blackburn 2-0 Cardiff.
- 6.S. McLoughlin boasts exceptional passing accuracy (86-87%) and high passing volume.
- 7.Kristi Montgomery leads Blackburn's midfield defensively with 2+ tackles per game.
- 8.O. Afolayan has multiple recent goals and a high match rating (8.21).
Prediction
Expect Blackburn to start strongly, taking a 2-0 lead into halftime through effective midfield control and clinical finishing. Cardiff will respond with a goal in the second half, but Blackburn's attacking depth and defensive resilience should see them secure a 3-1 victory.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — Blackburn
Away — Cardiff
The verdict
This fixture looks set to reinforce Blackburn's position as a tough opponent at home. Cardiff will need to tighten up defensively and find more creativity to challenge Blackburn's dominance. For now, the smart money is on Blackburn to claim all three points with a confident 3-1 scoreline.
Prediction generated 19 Sep 2026, 15:56 UTC · Fipster Model v1.158
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Guðjohnsen
Cantwell
Assist: Morishita
Robinson
Assist: Moylan
Ashford
Guðjohnsen
Morishita
Colwill
Robinson
Afolayan
Lawlor
Bagan
Montgomery
Match Statistics
Blackburn
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 2R. AlebiosuD
- 3H. PickeringD
- 8Sam MorsyM
- 9A. GuðjohnsenF
- 10T. CantwellM
- 15S. McLoughlinD
- 17H. CarterD
- 21O. AfolayanM
- 22B. TóthG
- 25R. MorishitaM
- 31Kristi MontgomeryM
Substitutes
- 1A. PearsG
- 6Tom AtchesonD
- 7A. KargboF
- 11J. FevrierF
- 14D. De NeveM
- 24M. BaradjiM
- 27Gady BeyukuD
- 30J. GarrettM
- 39H. PatesD
Cardiff
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 1N. TrottG
- 3J. BaganD
- 4G. OshoD
- 8J. MoylanM
- 11O. TannerM
- 18A. RobertsonM
- 27J. ColwillM
- 38P. NgD
- 45Cian AshfordM
- 47C. RobinsonF
- 48D. LawlorD
Substitutes
- 2W. FishD
- 14D. TurnbullM
- 16C. WillockM
- 23C. ScanlonD
- 30H. TyrerG
- 39I. DaviesF
- 43P. MorenoM
- 44R. KpakioD
Blackburn
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. Cantwell | M | 90 | 8.2 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1/3 |
| A. Guðjohnsen | F | 63 | 7.8 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| R. Morishita | M | 64 | 7.2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2/5 |
| H. Carter | D | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| O. Afolayan | M | 74 | 6.9 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1/5 |
| J. Fevrier | F | 26 | 6.7 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| A. Kargbo | F | 16 | 6.6 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 0/2 |
| Sam Morsy | M | 90 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Kristi Montgomery | M | 83 | 6.5 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| J. Garrett | M | 7 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| R. Alebiosu | D | 90 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| M. Baradji | M | 27 | 6.3 | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 0/1 |
| H. Pickering | D | 90 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| B. Tóth | G | 90 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| S. McLoughlin | D | 90 | 6.1 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| D. De Neve | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tom Atcheson | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gady Beyuku | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Pears | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| H. Pates | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Cardiff
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Robinson | F | 71 | 7.4 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 0/1 |
| N. Trott | G | 90 | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Bagan | D | 78 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| D. Lawlor | D | 78 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| O. Tanner | M | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 0/2 |
| A. Robertson | M | 90 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0/1 |
| I. Davies | F | 19 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 0/1 |
| R. Kpakio | D | 12 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| C. Scanlon | D | 12 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Colwill | M | 71 | 6.1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1/1 |
| J. Moylan | M | 90 | 6.1 | — | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | 2/7 |
| C. Willock | M | 30 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Turnbull | M | 19 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| G. Osho | D | 90 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P. Ng | D | 90 | 5.8 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/2 |
| Cian Ashford | M | 60 | 5.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 0/2 |
| P. Moreno | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| W. Fish | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| H. Tyrer | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Prediction Q&A
- Who did Fipster predict to win Blackburn vs Cardiff?
- Fipster's AI model predicted Blackburn to win against Cardiff.
- What score did Fipster predict for Blackburn vs Cardiff?
- Fipster predicted a final score of Blackburn 3–1 Cardiff.
- What were the win probabilities for Blackburn vs Cardiff?
- Fipster's model gave Blackburn a 95% chance of winning, Cardiff a 2% chance, and a 3% chance of a draw.
- How confident was Fipster in this prediction?
- Fipster's model assigned this prediction 95% confidence — a high-confidence call.