Match Previews

FA CUP PREVIEW: BLACKBURN ROVERS

8th January

All the stats you need to know, ahead of the visit of Blackburn Rovers....

Looking at the visitors

Blackburn Rovers currently sit in 17th place in the Sky Bet Championship having lost away to Cardiff City last weekend, and they are winless in four having not taken three points since they beat Rotherham on the 11th December. They have a wide range of players who are capable of finding the net but the player who stands out most of all with nine goals this season is Jordan Rhodes but Blackburn haven’t scored a goal themselves since the 5th December. John Sheridan will be looking for Scott Boden (8) to add to his goal tally and put the Exiles in the hat for the fourth round.

Form Guide

Newport County – WD D D DWLDL L 11 points

Blackburn Rovers – D DWDW WDL L L 13 points

Upcoming milestones

Danny Holmes – 2 appearances for 175 professional appearances

Matt Taylor – 2 goals for 25 professional goals

Medy Elito – 2 goals for 25 professional goals

Yan Klukowski – 1 appearance for 225 professional appearances

Scott Boden – 1 appearance for 250 professional appearances

Joe Day – 5 appearances for 125 professional appearances

Aaron Collins – 2 appearances for 25 professional appearances

Blackburn’s record against County

No previous meetings

Last time out

After the match against Hartlepool United was postponed, Newport’s last fixture was against Plymouth Argyle, where despite taking the lead through a Scott Boden goal 24 minutes into the game, it was the top of the table visitors that went away from Rodney Parade with all three points thanks to two second half goals. Other results went slightly against Newport as well on Monday afternoon, as things stand the Exiles find themselves in 20th in League 2, four points above the bottom two.

The man in charge

The referee for this fixtures is Charles Breakspear, his assistants are Daniel Cook and Mark Russell and the fourth official is John Farries. Breakspear has taken charge of Newport before, away to Plymouth in March in a match that finished goalless and at home to Dagenham and Redbridge in March 2014 where a Robbie Willmott goal for the Exiles was not enough to bring back a point for Newport, after two first half goals from Medy Elito put the visitors ahead before David Pipe was sent off with a few minutes to go. He was also the man in the middle for four games of County’s promotion season back to the football league. He took charge of the 0-0 home draw with Stockport, the 2-0 home victory over Mansfield Town, thanks to goals from Andy Sandell and Christian Jolley, the 1-1 away draw with Ebbsfleet with Lee Minshull grabbing a goal just before half time, and finally the 1-0 victory at home to Braintree with Conor Washington grabbing the only goal of the game. He has never taken charge of Blackburn Rovers.

Tickets

Tickets are still available for the tie. Fans are urged to purchase tickets in advance, either online or from the Ticket Office, which is open until 7pm this evening (Friday 8th January).

The Emirates Football Association Cup Third Round Proper (all times Saturday 3pm unless stated)

Arsenal v Sunderland

Birmingham City v A.F.C Bournemouth

Brentford v Walsall

Bury v Bradford City

Cardiff City v Shrewsbury Town (Sunday 6:00)

Carlisle United v Yeovil Town (Sunday 2:00)

Chelsea v Scunthorpe United (Sunday 2:00)

Colchester United v Charlton Athletic

Doncaster Rovers v Stoke City

Eastleigh v Bolton Wanderers

Everton v Dagenham and Redbridge