Blackburn vs Newcastle predictions: Magpies to win high-scoring cup clash

Tom McGarry

Spotlight

Eddie Howe's Newcastle have been involved in some high-scoring games of late

- Blackburn's two FA Cup games so far this season have produced 12 goals
- Each of Newcastle's last five matches have featured at least four goals
- Recommended bet: Newcastle to win & over 3.5 goals

A place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup will be at stake on Tuesday when Blackburn welcome Newcastle to Ewood Park.

Championship outfit Rovers have only won one of their six matches since booking their place in the fifth round, during which time they have parted ways with head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, bringing in John Eustace in his place.

Newcastle have already won at Sunderland and Fulham in this season's FA Cup, but they will head into this game on the back of Saturday's comprehensive 4-1 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League.

Team news

Blackburn remain without injured trio Joe Rankin-Costello, John Fleck and Hayden Carter, while Harry Leonard is considered a doubt due to a knock.

Ryan Hedges could also miss Tuesday's contest after he was forced off with a muscle injury during the opening 15 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Norwich.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has named a strong team in the opening two rounds of this season's FA Cup and he should do so again, although Sandro Tonali, Callum Wilson, Joelinton, Nick Pope, Elliot Anderson and Matt Targett all remain unavailable.

Martin Dubravka also remains a doubt due to the illness that kept him out of the defeat to Arsenal, which means Loris Karius could retain his place in goal.

The latest Blackburn vs Newcastle odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Blackburn have both scored and conceded in each of their last nine home matches, while their two games in this season's FA Cup — that have both come at home against Cambridge and Wrexham — have yielded an eye-watering 12 goals.

Rovers also boast the joint leading scorer in this season's FA Cup, with Sammie Szmodics having netted five times in the competition, while the 28-year-old also tops the scoring charts in the Championship.

Newcastle's matches also tend to be filled with goals, as each of their last five have yielded at least four, a stat that has also occurred in eight of their previous 10 games across all competitions as well.

The Magpies have won their last two meetings with Blackburn, with the most recent clash between the two sides at Ewood Park ending in a 4-2 success for the visitors in January 2019 — a match that also came in the FA Cup.

John Eustace was named Blackburn's new head coach earlier this month

Prediction

These two sides are better going forward than they are defensively and that could lead to a goalfest at Ewood Park, although Newcastle's Premier League quality should ultimately tell.

The Magpies were second best at Arsenal on Saturday, but they were unbeaten in five prior to that setback and an out-of-sorts Blackburn should not pose them the same problems as the high-flying Gunners.

Just one win in six suggests Blackburn are struggling to find their best form and their main focus between now and the end of the season should be on avoiding being dragged into a Championship relegation battle.

Given Newcastle's own defensive vulnerabilities, Blackburn can contribute to an entertaining game, but ultimately the Magpies should prosper in a match featuring at least four goals.

Back Newcastle to win & over 3.5 goals at 6/4 with LiveScore Bet