BLACKBURN Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes has been dropped to the bench for today’s Championship clash at fellow promotion hopefuls Brentford.

Rhodes, who once had a loan spell with the Bees, is replaced in Rovers boss Gary Bowyer’s starting line-up by midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe.

It is the only change Bowyer has made to the team that started last Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

The defeat ended Rovers’ nine-game unbeaten run.

But victory today would move them above fifth-placed Brentford and back into the play-offs.

The Bees, whose five-match winning run came to an end at Huddersfield Town last Saturday, make one change, with Spanish midfielder Jota replacing his compatriot Jon Toral.

Rovers old boys Alan Judge and Jonathan Douglas are named in Brentford’s starting line-up.

Rovers are without the injured Tom Cairney (ankle), Chris Brown (knee), Josh King (back), Matt Kilgallon (knee) and Tommy Spurr (groin) and the ill Chris Taylor.

Brentford: Button, Odubajo, Craig, Dean, Bidwell, Douglas, Diagouraga, Pritchard, Jota, Judge, Gray. Subs: Bonham, Saunders, Dallas, Toral, Smith, Tarkowski, Proschwitz.

Rovers: Steele, Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Williamson, Evans, Tunnicliffe, Conway, Marshall, Gestede. Subs: Eastwood, Henley, Lowe, Dunn, Rhodes, Varney, Songo’o.