English FA CUP
2012-01-07 - Newcastle United vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : FA Cup
Saturday 7th January - Kickoff 3:00pm
Newcastle
Pardew's Toon Army come into this 3rd round FA Cup tie with Blackburn on a high following their big 3-0 win over Champions United. Their draw has been a little unkind getting a fellow Premiership side but the home side will fancy their chances.
Newcastle were on a winless streak of 6 games but have since won 2 out of the last 3 games. In the league their home record is ranked 7th with 5 wins from 10 and just 2 defeats.
Chelsea and West Brom are the only sides to win at the Sports Direct Stadium this season so it's right that the Toon are odds on to win this game.
Unfortunately for them 2 huge players in Tiote and Ba are missing due to African Nation Cup commitments and I don't feel the price on the home side has accommodated these absentees.
Ba in particular is a huge loss with the striker scoring 15 goals this season with his nearest challenger with only 3 goals. The Senegalese striker has scored in 5 of the last 6 games that the Toon have scored in so his loss is a huge blow to the side.
Blackburn
Rock bottom of the Premier League Blackburn can relax from their relegation dog fight this weekend as they travel to the North East to face Newcastle.
With 1 win in 6, Rovers are not in the best of form but most surprisingly the win came at Old Trafford against United. That win is their only win away from Ewood Park but this result was followed by a home loss to Stoke.
As soon as Rovers get a win they then go on a 5 odd game winning drought and hence why they remain bottom of the league. Unlike Newcastle the side hasn't been hampered by losses to key players going to Africa so In my eyes this could be a really close game.
Rovers are still looking for their first clean sheet of the season and whilst Ba is absent I fully expect a home goal. The good news is that Rovers have not been shut out for 10 games now and if you can score 3 at Old Trafford you can get 1 at Newcastle
Betting Verdict
I feel Newcastle are too short at 1.65 odd given they are missing their best midfielder and striker.
Blackburn are not a great side by any stretch of the imagination but they do have goals in them. Most weeks I play both to score in Rovers games as the side hasn't kept a clean sheet this year whilst they are a real threat going forward.
Given that this is a cup tie and neither side will want a replay seeing Both to Score priced so high is a shock. Yes there is no Demba Ba but with the Toon on a high after that win v United they should be fired up for this one.
An open cracking FA Cup tie is expected here and i'll be stunned if the Toon record back to back clean sheets whilst Rovers at the back just can't be trusted. Goals for me in this one.
Good Luck
The Pick :
Newcastle 2-1 Blackburn
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Both Teams to Score at 1.83
