Leicester City look to avoid a cupset against Blackburn Rovers at King Power Stadium in Fifth Round of 2022-23 FA Cup.
Victory would see Leicester reach the Quarter-Finals for the third time in four seasons, whilst Blackburn are chasing a first appearance beyond this stage since the 2014-15 season.
Team News
James Maddison could return for Leicester after he missed their Premier League defeat against Arsenal due to illness.
Youri Tielemans is doubtful after he suffered an ankle injury at the weekend and is awaiting scan results.
Jonny Evans (calf) is a doubt but James Justin (Achilles) and Ryan Bertrand (knee) remain absent.
Blackburn manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson could recall Ben Brereton Diaz to the starting line-up, after he was named as an unused substitute in their Championship win at QPR following his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Thomas Kaminski, Sam Barnes (both knee), Daniel Ayala, Bradley Dack (both hamstring), Jake Batty, (ankle), and Scott Wharton (calf) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Leicester host Blackburn on Tuesday 28 February at 7:30pm GMT at King Power Stadium, with the match streamed live in the UK on BBC iPlayer plus is available on BBC Red Button via TV.
Stat Attack
- Leicester have avoided defeat in three of four previous FA Cup meetings against Blackburn (W2, D1, L1).
- Blackburn are playing Leicester in a FA Cup clash at the King Power Stadium for the very first time but are winless in two previous such visits albeit at Filbert Way (D1, L1).
- Both teams have kept just one clean sheet across their four previous FA Cup meetings.
- Leicester have won each of their two FA Cup matches this season by 1-0 results, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring on both occasions.
- Blackburn have won each of their two away matches in this season’s FA Cup by 1-0 result, either side of a 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham in their initial Fourth Round tie.
Prediction
Currently locked in a scrap for Premier League survival and a trip to Southampton at the weekend, it will be interesting to see how Leicester approach this cup game because avoiding relegation is surely a bigger priority but this cup run also provides momentum for coming games.
Brendan Rogers’ Foxes though will be disappointed to have not snatched a draw against Arsenal after wasteful end product cost them, as did a sloppy drop in focus at start of second half when the Gunners changed their attacking approach from direct up the middle towards the flanks.
Blackburn meanwhile looked energetic in their win at QPR with high intensity attacking movement and finishing, yet their defence is vulnerable on the road with just three clean sheets since mid-December – of which two came in the FA Cup via 1-0 wins over Norwich and Birmingham City.
This clash therefore feels like it has the hallmarks of a tough battle between an out-of-form Leicester and a dangerous in-form Blackburn team, which makes me feel like this could well go the distance with the Foxes possibly edging it on penalties.
Prediction: Leicester 1-1 Blackburn (Leicester to win on penalties)
Result: Leicester 1-2 Blackburn
Leave a Reply