About this Event
Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United lock horns in the FA Cup fifth round at Ewood Park on Tuesday night. The hosts continue to drop down the table in the second tier. They were involved in a share of the spoils for the third straight game, as they only managed a 1-1 league draw with Norwich City on Saturday.
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Jon Dahl Tomasson parted ways with Blackburn Rovers at the start of February after reportedly losing trust in the financial backing of the club’s controversial owners. John Eustace, Tomasson’s replacement, has yet to oversee a victory for Rovers in four games, leaving them in 16th place in the Championship table, 16 points off the playoff positions, and just four points outside of the relegation zone at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Blackburn now turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they began their campaign with a 5-2 victory over Cambridge United in early January before hammering Wrexham 4-1 at Ewood Park. On the other hand, Newcastle’s five-game unbeaten run ended in spectacular style as they fell to a 4-1 loss at Arsenal on Saturday night. That defeat ended a four-game winning run away from home.
Sitting in eighth place in the Premier League, a whopping 15 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, the Magpies went out of both the UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup before the festive period. So, the FA Cup is now the only route to end their long trophy drought.
Newcastle United required extra time to beat Blackburn Rovers when they last visited Lancashire in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2019, and they have not won at Ewood Park since both clubs were in the Premier League a decade ago. Ahead of their latest meeting on Tuesday night, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams.
Blackburn Rovers
Ryan Hedges was forced off after only 15 minutes into Blackburn Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Saturday with a tight groin. The Welsh winger had missed four months with a severe hamstring injury and could be in for yet another spell on the sidelines.
Hedges joins John Fleck (calf) and Joe Rankin-Costello (leg) in the treatment room until at least mid-March, while Hayden Carter is expected back from a hamstring issue in April. Harry Leonard will be assessed late before the game.
Newcastle United
Callum Wilson (chest) and Joelinton (thigh) are out for the campaign. First-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope is still some way short of full fitness after dislocating his shoulder, and it is doubtful Martin Dubravka will be able to recover from illness by Tuesday. So, third-choice Loris Karius is in line to continue in between the sticks.
Elliot Anderson has been hampered by a nagging back problem throughout the season, while Matt Targett has been sidelined with a hamstring issue. Both are inching closer to making a return to first-team training. Sandro Tonali will not be back from his betting ban until August.hfghgf
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Newcastle United Football Club, Strawberry Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
GBP 8.10