BLACKBURN Rovers will not improve on their 15th-placed finish in the Championship last season, according to Sky Sports English Football League pundit Ian Holloway.

Holloway reckons Rovers will finish 18th in Owen Coyle’s first campaign in charge after the departure of captain Grant Hanley to Newcastle United who is he tipping to win the title ahead of Brighton & Albion with Norwich City, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United making up the play-offs.

The former Blackpool boss, who thinks Brentford, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United will go down, said: “Owen Coyle will need a tin hat if things don’t go well at Blackburn this season with his Burnley and Bolton connections!

“It’s hard to judge how Rovers will do but I know selling Grant Hanley to Newcastle won’t help their cause.”

Holloway’s predicted table: 1 Newcastle United, 2 Brighton & Hove Albion, 3 Norwich City, 4 Derby County, 5 Sheffield Wednesday, 6 Leeds United, 7 Ipswich Town, 8 Cardiff City, 9 Birmingham City, 10 Bristol City, 11 QPR, 12 Nottingham Forest, 13 Wolves, 14 Preston North End, 15 Reading, 16 Aston Villa, 17 Fulham, 18 Blackburn Rovers, 19 Barnsley, 20 Wigan Athletic, 21 Burton Albion, 22 Brentford, 23 Huddersfield Town, 24 Rotherham United.