Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit reveals if he thinks West Brom will beat Blackburn Rovers - "I've got a feeling" | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has spoken to FLW about how he sees West Brom v Blackburn Rovers unfolding at The Hawthorns.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has backed West Brom to come out victorious when they meet with Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns on the opening weekend of the 2025-26 Championship season.

With pre-season preparations concluded, the new second-tier season rolls around once again, with both Albion and Rovers hoping they can continue to challenge towards the top end of the table after both narrowly missed out on a play-off place in 2024-25.

Valerien Ismael returns to the Black Country where he had a short and unproductive stint as Baggies boss, while Ryan Mason will enter the dugout for his first competitive game as a full-time manager.

Both teams have been working tirelessly to bolster their squads ahead of this meeting too, with Albion recruiting Nat Phillips, George Campbell and Aune Heggebo, while Blackburn have brought Sean McLoughlin, Ryan Alebiosu, Dion De Neve, Lewis Miller and Sidnei Tavares to Ewood Park.

While no one knows where both teams will finish come the end of the campaign, they will both be looking to set their stalls out early and ensure their supporters come away happy at the end of the opening 90 minutes.

As the clock ticks down to action kicking off in B71, pundit Lee Hendrie has weighed in with his thoughts on who he thinks will have the edge in this encounter.

Lee Hendrie backs West Brom to edge past Blackburn Rovers

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has revealed that he is optimistic about West Brom’s chances to gain promotion back to the Premier League this season under Ryan Mason, and believes the former Tottenham Hotspur will kick off his tenure in positive fashion.

Hendrie said: “West Brom and Blackburn is another game, they’re all coming thick and fast, obviously.

“I think West Brom will do well this season. There’s a new man (Ryan Mason) going in there, taking control with different ideas, new faces.

“I’ve got a feeling West Brom will beat Blackburn, and my score prediction is 2-1.”

West Brom can use Rayo Vallecano triumph to get off to the perfect start

West Brom were victorious in their final pre-season game last weekend by beating Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at The Hawthorns.

They toppled a Spanish outfit who will be playing European football this coming season, and that will give the squad huge confidence and belief that they have the quality to bring about a promotion push this season.

There will be excitement building as Albion fans prepare to see the debuts of Nat Phillips and Aune Heggebo, with supporters hopeful that the latter can transition into a goalscoring machine at second-tier level due to the unreliable fitness of duo Josh Maja and Daryl Dike.

While Albion’s squad is nowhere near finished in terms of additions heading into the opening weekend, Ryan Mason will be hoping his team can set the tone for the rest of the season by starting with an opening day three points.