Bad omens for Blackburn

Manchester United/Blackburn Rovers, 8pm, Best Odds, Free Bets

Blackburn have impressed in the Carling Cup this season, taking out Everton and winning away at Sunderland but the minute they were drawn away to Manchester United, it was hard to see their journey continuing. Paul Ince has tried to boost morale by making the comparison with when his Macclesfield team were struggling in the relegation zone and won away at league leaders Walsall in the cup, kickstarting their season. Unfortunately for Ince and his team, Manchester United are a bit of a step-up from Walsall.

» Blackburn have already lost at home to Manchester United 2-0 this season and have lost all four of their games against top five sides under Paul Ince.

» Rovers got past two Premier League sides to reach last season’s quarter-finals where they were drawn at home to Arsenal and suffered elimination.

» Sir Alex Ferguson has lost just five of 51 encounters against teams managed by his former players.

» Manchester United eliminated Blackburn from the Carling Cup the last time they met three seasons ago and Blackburn haven’t knocked the Red Devils out of a tournament since 1928, when Blackburn were 2-0 victors in a home FA Cup quarter-final.

» Carlos Tevez is likely to start for Manchester United and as well as scoring their winner in the last round against QPR, he has a great record of scoring significant goals against Blackburn.

» In his first start against them he scored West Ham’s equaliser in the 2-1 win at Ewood Park that ended an eleven match run without victory and marked the start of the Great Escape. In his third and most recent start last season he scored Manchester United’s 88th minute equaliser to keep their title bid on track. Tevez is 5/1 with 888sport to score the first goal.

Posted: December 3rd, 2008 by Michael Lintorn |