Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester City betting preview

FA Cup weekend is is upon us. Let the giant-killing begin.

Kick-off: 12:45, Ewood Park

Premier League title favourites Manchester City travel to Lancashire with nothing less than a win in their sights as they can continue their quest for success in all competitions this year. Manuel Pellegrini’s men have played four games in twelve days over the festive period and also face an all-Premier League clash with West Ham in the League Cup on Wednesday. The fixture pile-up suggests that the Chilean manager will likely rest some of his key players for the Blackburn 3rd round tie. Despite the probable weakened team selection, Manchester City are 25/1 to come out as 5-0 victors at Sportingbet.

For Blackburn, Gary Bowyer welcomes Scott Dann back into the side however right-back, Todd Kane, will miss out with a thigh-strain. City are also boosted with David Silva’s return from suspension but remain without, Stevan Jovetic, Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis and Jack Rodwell. Edin Dzeko may get a rare start against Blackburn. The Bosnian striker holds one of the best goals to minutes ratios in the entire league this season. After slipping behind Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero in the striking pecking order, he has become Pellegrini’s lethal weapon from the bench in many games this season. Dzeko is backed at 7/2 to break the deadlock at Ewood Park with Paddypower.

The last time these two teams met in the FA Cup was back in 2007 where Rovers secured a 2-0 victory. If history was to repeat itself today, steep odds of 40/1 are offered by bet365 for a Rovers 2-0 win.

This year marks a staggering 130 years since Blackburn overs first won the FA Cup but the fact is they have not got their hands on it again since 1928. On the contrary, Manchester City have been involved in two of the last three finals, including last year’s where they suffered a shock defeat to Roberto Martinez’s Wigan side. They will be itching to put this right and go one step further by winning the FA Cup this year. BetVictor make the blue moon favourites at 9/2 to lift the famos trophy.

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