THE GROUND
Ewood Park
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB2 4JF
Ewood Park was officially opened in 1882 but research indicates it probably played host to football matches at least a year before.
Blackburn Rovers first took it as their home in 1890, 15 years after the club was founded.
Rovers had played some games at the ground, a multi-purpose venue initially, in 1882 and moved in eight years later when they moved out of their Leamington Road venue.
The last major redevelopment of Ewood Park took place in the early 1990s and it is now a 31,367 capacity all-seater stadium.
Away fans are housed in the Bryan Douglas Darwen End and the normal allocation is 4,000 tickets, including seats in both upper and lower tiers.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
It is approximately 231 miles from Griffin Park to Ewood Park by road.
Supporters who travel from the south on the M6 will find the ground a short distance from junction 4 of the M65.
Take the A666, heading north, and the stadium, which is sign-posted, is around a mile away.
There are private car parks in the area for those who drive.
The nearest station is Mill Hill, which is around 15 minutes from Ewood Park.
Blackburn station is slightly further away and trains go from Blackburn to Mill Hill.
Mill Hill and Blackburn stations are served by Northern trains services on the Leeds to Preston line.
Preston is served by Virgin Trains services from London Euston while Leeds is served by East Coast trains from London King’s Cross.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE FIXTURES
Brentford will play Blackburn Rovers at Griffin Park on Saturday December 13, the last home match before Christmas.
The Bees then travel to Ewood Park on Tuesday March 17.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Blackburn Rovers are set to begin their third season in The Championship after relegation from the Premier League in 2012.
The Lancashire club have a rich history, having been founder members of the Football League and the Premier League and with six FA Cup and one League Cup win to their credit, but the last few years have seen a downward trend.
From the high of 1995, when Rovers were Premier League champions, they finished in the lower reaches of The Championship in 2012/13 and although they had a better season in 2013/14, they never looked like pushing for promotion.
Rovers spent all but two seasons from 1992/93 to 2012/13 in the top flight, regularly finishing in the top half, but were relegated two summers ago, losing eight of their last nine games.
They looked like going down again the following year, and sat in the relegation zone with six games to go, but won three and drew two of the last six to stay up.
Last season was another that could have ended badly as Rovers sat in mid-table for much of the campaign, unable to put together a run of wins.
However, they were unbeaten in their last 12 games, winning six of them, and ended the season eighth in the table.
Too many draws, 16 in the league, cost them a shot at the Play-Offs and they finished two points behind Brighton and Hove Albion in sixth.
THE MANAGER
Gary Bowyer was named as permanent manager of Blackburn Rovers last summer after two spells as caretaker.
He took over for a short spell in December 2012 and January 2013 and was handed the reins again, this time permanently, at the end of the 2012/13 season.
He oversaw a fine end of season run to keep them up and then got the full time job that summer.
The 42-year-old had an unremarkable playing career, playing just over 50 Football League matches, before retiring through injury.
He moved in to coaching and has been at Blackburn since 2004.
THE TOP SCORER
Jordan Rhodes scored 25 goals in all competitions for Blackburn Rovers last season, continuing his prolific run.
The striker scored all 25 in The Championship, making him the second highest scorer in the division.
Rhodes is well known to Brentford fans, having played on loan at Griffin Park during the 2008/09 season, scoring seven goals in 14 League Two games.
He started pout at Ipswich Town but made his name at Huddersfield Town, scoring 73 goals in 124 league games over three seasons with The Terriers.
In total he scored 87 goals in 148 games in all competitions for Huddersfield before a move to Blackburn in the summer of 2012.
In two years at Ewood Park the Scotland international has scored 52 league goals in 89 appearances.
THE KEY MEN
Blackburn were one of the top scoring teams in The Championship in 2013/14, netting 70 goals.
Only four teams, two of which were promoted, managed more.
As well as top scorer Rhodes, striker Rudy Gestede managed 13 goals in 27 league games while midfield player Tom Cairney scored five and long-serving David Dunn hit four.
However, the 62 goals they conceded was the most in the top nine.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson was first choice after returning from injury around Christmas but central defender Scott Dann left to join Crystal Palace in January.
Tommy Spurr played 43 games at left back while Grant Hanley made 39 Championship appearances in the centre of defence.
Jason Lowe was a regular in midfield, starting 38 Championship fixtures, but many others were in and out of the team.
Matthew Kilgallon played 25 league games in defence while Todd Kane played 27 on loan from Chelsea.
Attacker Josh King played 32 games, 12 as a substitute, and midfield player Lee Williamson started 21 of his 31 league games.
Dunn is out-of-contract and Kane has returned to Chelsea but the remainder of those listed above should be with Rovers in August.
THE FIRST MEETING
September 5 1935, Football League Division One – Brentford 3 Blackburn Rovers 1
Brentford line-up: Mathieson; Bateman, Poyser; McKenzie, James, Watson; Hopkins, Robson, Holliday, B. Scott, Fletcher
Brentford goal scorers: Fletcher (2), Holliday
Brentford’s first home game in the top tier ended in victory.
THE LAST MEETING
September 24 1996, Coca-Cola Cup Second Round Second Leg – Blackburn Rovers 2 Brentford 0 (Blackburn win 4-1 on aggregate)
Brentford line-up: Dearden; Hurdle, Bates (sub McGhee), Ashby, Anderson; Canham, Smith; Forster, Taylor, Asaba (sub Abrahams), Bent
Sub (not used): Fernandes
Brentford lose to Premier League Blackburn Rovers over two legs in League Cup.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
February 18 1989, FA Cup Fifth Round – Blackburn Rovers 0 Brentford 2
Brentford line-up: Parks; Feeley, Millen, Evans, Stanislaus; Smillie, Jones, Ratcliffe, Sinton; Cadette (sub Godfrey), Blissett
Sub (not used): Pearce
Brentford goal scorer: Blissett (2)
Gary Blissett scored two late goals as Third Division Brentford book place in last eight of FA Cup with win over Second Division title chasers Blackburn Rovers.
THE ODDS
Sky Bet is offering 20/1 on Blackburn Rovers winning The Championship next season.
Those who back Rovers can get ¼ of the odds if they finish in the top three.
Every bet you make with Sky Bet benefits Brentford FC – click here to see the Championship market.