Newcastle United vs. Blackburn Rovers – prediction and team news
Newcastle United will be looking to kick off their EFL Cup campaign on Tuesday when they welcome Blackburn Rovers to St James’ Park for the second round.
The winners of this clash will be facing either Morecambe or Oldham Athletic in the third round, which is set to take place the week commencing September 21.
Newcastle United marked their return to Premier League action in perfect fashion with a 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Saturday evening. Newcastle’s only appearance in the EFL Cup final came in the 1975-76 season, where they were defeated 2-1 by Manchester City at the old Wembley Stadium.
On the other side, Blackburn’s return to Championship action ended in disappointment as Bournemouth scraped a 3-2 victory over Tony Mowbray’s side at the weekend.
However, Blackburn have already made a winning start in the 2020-21 EFL Cup as they overcame Doncaster Rovers 3-2 in the first round.
Reason for Newcastle United vs. Blackburn Rovers predictions:
- Blackburn have lost six of their last seven away games in all competitions.
- Four of these six defeats have been to nil, with 2-0 defeats in two of them.
- Blackburn haven’t beaten top flight opposition in the League Cup since 2011.
- It’s been three years since they have lost against this opponent.
- They have scored two or more goals in five of the former eight clashes.
- In the past ten years, only once have they lost at this stadium.
The last time these two met on the pitch was in 2019, in the FA Cup. Then, the Magpies won 2-4 on the road.
Newcastle knocked Blackburn out of the 2018-19 FA Cup after a replay when the sides last locked horns, and the two clubs have met in the EFL Cup twice in the last-16 stage, with Blackburn prevailing in both matches in the 1998-99 and 2011-12 seasons.
By the looks of things, the Magpies have the upper hand this Tuesday. They are from the Premier League – quite probably the best and toughest competition in the world.
They are locking horns with some of the best teams in Europe on a weekly basis, and are much more experienced and exposed. They are far better in terms of talent, budget and facilities – compared to the Riversiders, a second-division club.
We expect Newcastle to dominate this Tuesday.
