Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
It’s a local derby of sorts as Blackburn Rovers of The Championship play host to F.A. Cup holders Manchester United this Afternoon at Ewood Park. Cast your mind back 20 plus years and these two sides were in some titanic battles in a bid to win the Premier League title, how things have changed.
For Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson you now have to read Owen Coyle and Jose Mourinho, the names of the lead protagonists may have changed but the script will not have changed all that much as Blackburn will look to once again get one over what was at the point their most arch rivals.
Holders United have been given a pairing with a side from England’s second tier for the third round in a row, they have already disposed of both Reading and Wigan and both by the scoreline of 4-0. Those games though were at Old Trafford, will a trip to Ewood Park prove a sterner test later Today.
United have already had cup success earlier in the week after they made easy work of Saint-Etienne in the Europa League. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on hand to score a hat-trick to all but secure the competition favourites path to the Round of 16.
Jose Mourinho was quoted as saying yesterday that he ‘won’t throw the competition’ that was in regards to previous cup departures that were blamed on the fact that too much focus was put on the Champions League game that was to follow days later.
Perhaps with the Europa League tie already secure he has earned the luxury of being able to name a strong side for the short trip to Blackburn. There are at least a trio of absentees though as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick all miss out through a combination of illness and injury.
With a winning momentum truly behind the club at present it might seem foolish to make wholesale changes and disrupt the rhythm they currently find themselves in. Their last defeat in all competitions came in the EFL Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg when they lost away at Hull and subsequently edged into next week’s Wembley Final against Southampton.
With that in mind though, fixture congestion could be a concern for Mourinho. One that he has already raised earlier in the week, he may have gone on record saying that he will treat this competition with full respect but it may be wise to make full use of a squad which is undoubtedly brimming with talent.
As holders United will certainly not want to relinquish their grip on the trophy but for hosts Blackburn this game will be a welcome distraction from league matters. Owen Coyle’s men find themselves second bottom in The Championship and three points from safety.
Two wins in their last ten league matches sums up Blackburn’s plight as of now as they bid to beat the drop to League One at the end of the season. Their defence has been the main issue with 49 goals against they have the second worst defensive record in the division.
So they are undoubtedly going to have their work cut out when they go up against a Manchester United side which is firing on all cylinders. Regardless of which combination of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial plays you would imagine it will be enough to dispose of Championship opposition once again. An away win for me.
