Blackburn Rovers host Wrexham at Ewood Park in the concluding tie of the Fourth Round in the 2023-24 FA Cup.
Victory would see Blackburn reach the Fifth Round for a second consecutive season, whilst Wrexham look to move beyond this stage for the first time since they reached the Quarter-Finals in 1996-97 season.
Team News
Hayden Carter and Harry Pickering are ruled out for Blackburn after the defensive pair suffered hamstring injuries.
New signing, Connor O’Riordan is cup-tied after he featured for Crewe Alexandra earlier in the competition, whilst Jack Vale is also cup-tied after he played in the First Round for Lincoln City on loan.
Tyrhys Dolan (knee) is available but Sam Barnes (knee), John Buckley (shoulder) and Ryan Hedges (hamstring) remain absent.
Wrexham will be without William Boyle after he was red carded in their League Two defeat at Newport County.
Jacob Mendy could return following Gambia’s exit in the Africa Cup of Nations, whilst Andy Cannon (head) and Steven Fletcher (knee) are expected to be available for selection
Thomas O’Connor (foot) and Anthony Forde (back) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Blackburn host Wrexham at Ewood Park in a 7:30pm GMT kick-off on Monday 29 January, live on BBC1 Wales.
Stat Attack
- This is Blackburn’s first FA Cup meeting against Wrexham.
- Wrexham are visiting Blackburn for the first time in the FA Cup, but are unbeaten in their last six trips to Ewood Park in all competitions (W1, D5).
- Both teams have scored in six of their eight clashes at Ewood Park in all competitions.
- Blackburn are unbeaten in four of their last five meetings against lower league opposition at home in the FA Cup (W3, D1, L1).
- Sam Dalby has been involved in four of Wrexham’s six FA Cup goals this season, having scored two goals and contributed two assists in three appearances.
Prediction
With just one win in their last seven matches in all competitions and defensive issues piling up, it will be interesting to see how Blackburn approach this game because they are flirting with relegation in the league despite currently holding a fair gap to the bottom three.
Their attack therefore will be key especially given Sammie Szmodics’ goalscoring exploits this season, yet if he doesn’t start then I do worry for their goalscoring ability given how crucial a role he has played in their goals across the campaign.
Wrexham meanwhile will be licking their lips at Blackburn’s defensive issues given their attacking style of play which has seen them draw just five blanks all season, so I expect the visitors to cause serious issues if able to impose their high-intensity play on Blackburn’s defence.
This game therefore is one which feels like it will ooze goals but given Blackburn’s defensive crisis and league issues, I fancy Wrexham to cause a cupset here if are able to take their chances but importantly don’t play sloppy at the back.
Prediction: Blackburn 2-3 Wrexham
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