Team News:
Shaquile Coulthirst is back in training, still recovering from the knock he picked up against Yeovil Town.
John Akinde (hamstring), Curtis Weston (knee) and Jamie Stephens (knee) are all training out on the grass, edging closer to a return to action.
Richard Brindley (foot), Elliott Johnson (knee) and Dave Tarpey (knee) are still sidelined with long-term knocks.
Last Time We Met:
This is our first ever competitive meeting with Blackburn Rovers in our 129-year history. Six-time FA Cup winners and Premier League champions in 1995, Blackburn are certainly a team many clubs would want to beat at the first time of asking.
Manager:
Tony Mowbray was appointed Blackburn Rovers manager on 22nd February 2017.
The former Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich defender has been a high achiever in management since taking charge at Hibernian in May 2004.
Hibs finished in the top four of the Scottish Premier Division in both his two full seasons at the helm. Mowbray also brought European football to Easter Road before moving to West Bromwich in October 2006.
As Albion’s replacement for Bryan Robson in the wake of relegation, he guided his new team into the playoffs where they were beaten 1-0 by Derby in the final after winning both legs of the semi-final against West Midlands rivals Wolves.
The Baggies stormed to the Championship title in his first full season at the Hawthorns in 2008 with Mowbray picking up the LMA’s Divisional Manager of the Year award.
Mowbray was then confirmed as the new manager of Celtic in June 2009 and remained with the club until March 2010.
Having taken charge of Middlesbrough during the 2010/11 season, Mowbray enjoyed immediate success in the role as his side went on to finish 12th in the npower Championship.
He enjoyed a successful first full season in charge at the Riverside as he guided the club to a 7th place finish in the npower Championship, narrowly missing out on a play-off place. The club then followed this up with a 16th place finish the following term.
Dangerman:
Bradley Dack joined Blackburn from Gillingham in the summer of 2017 after seven years at Priestfield.
Making 185 appearances in all competitions for the Gills, Dack certainly made a name for himself. Chipping in with 38 goals and 34 assists in this time, it was an understatement to say that the fans were disappointed when he made the switch to Ewood Park.
However, he’s continued his form this season, with four league goals in 14 appearances showing why the Riversiders paid the money they did.
The 23-year-old is still early on in his career but certainly, has the ability to elevate himself to the highest level.
Connections:
Paul Downing, currently at Blackburn Rovers on loan from Milton Keynes Dons, make 32 appearances across all competitions on loan at Barnet in the 2011/12 season. The defenders 26 league games helped Barnet avoid relegation by two points. He’s made five appearances for The Blue and Whites so far this season.
Last Time Out:
In their last fixture, Blackburn drew 2-2 at home to Fleetwood Town, with the latter coming from behind twice to secure the draw.
The first goal came in the 53rd minute, Bradley Dack heading home after a rebounded shot from Danny Graham.
The lead only lasted 11 minutes though, Aiden O’Neill scoring the equaliser for the Codarmy.
The Blue and Whites swiftly took back the lead however, Joe Nuttall pouncing on Derrick Williams’ header across the face of goal.
Fleetwood equalised for the second time in the 82nd, Rovers keeper David Raya fumbled a cross from a corner and Wes Burns bundled the ball home.
Both Blackburn and Fleetwood rose in the Sky Bet League One table, to sixth and eighth respectively.
Ticket info:
Supporters can find out more about tickets details here.
Keep up with the game:
Full match commentary from every game is available on iFollow. However, as this match is an FA Cup game, there will be no iFollow video stream for Overseas Subscribers.
You can also get live match updates on Twitter throughout the afternoon. We are also on Facebook and will go behind the scenes on our Instagram.
