Blackburn Rovers vs Man City: FA Cup Preview, Team News & Likely Line-Ups

Date: Saturday, 4 January 2014; Venue: Ewood Park, Blackburn; Kickoff: 12:45 GMT

Blackburn Rovers have never beaten Northwest rivals Manchester City since the Etihad outfit was taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. These two sides, both former Premier League champions, will face one another in the opening game of FA Cup third round weekend.

Bankrolled by Arab billions, City boast a recent record of six wins and three draws against Rovers. Prior to that, Blackburn managed five successive victories in this fixture - including their last meeting in the world's oldest knockout football competition.

Mark Hughes masterminded that FA Cup quarter-final win at Ewood Park in March 2007 with Aaron Mokoena netting the opener before being sent off. Matt Derbyshire later sealed victory for Rovers. Hughes later went on to manage City.

South African striker Benni McCarthy scored the only goal the following September when Blackburn last won this encounter. Both sides finished the afternoon with ten men. Rovers have since lost top flight status whilst City have gone on to win the FA Cup and Premier League.

Blackburn are tenth in the Championship and two points off a playoff place. They have fared far better on the road over the Christmas and New Year period, however. Only one of the seven points Gary Bowyer's Rovers have picked up from the last dozen available has come at home.

City meanwhile are in menacing form. Manuel Pellegrini's team have 11 wins in their last 12 in all competitions and have not been defeated since November 10 when they lost at Sunderland. Despite this formidable run of a dozen games unbeaten they are still behind Arsenal in the Premier League table.

Team News

Blackburn boss Bowyer is without Chelsea loan player Todd Kane as the right back has a thigh strain. Northern Ireland midfielder Corry Evans is also out. Long-serving Rovers player David Dunn trained on Friday and could return after a hamstring problem.

Academy product Jason Lowe returns from a one-match ban. Blackburn also have Tom Cairney and Rudy Gestede available after both players signed for the club permanently this week following successful loan spells. Bradley Orr has returned from a spell at Blackpool and may go straight into defence. Pellegrini has City playmaker David Silva back from suspension, but Jack Rodwell has been sidelined again by a hamstring injury. He joins defenders Martin Demichelis and Micah Richards in having a similar problem. Forwards Sergio Aguero (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) are also out. Source: BBC

Likely Line-Ups

Blackburn: 13 Simon Eastwood, 22 Bradley Orr, 16 Scott Dann, 5 Grant Hanley, 3 Tommy Spurr, 12 Ben Marshall, 17 Lee Williamson, 45 Tom Cairney, 19 Chris Taylor, 11 Jordan Rhodes, 39 Rudy Gestede 4-4-2 Man City: 30 Costel Pantilimon, 5 Pablo Zabaleta, 38 Dedryck Boyata, 6 Joleon Lescott, 22 Gael Clichy, 14 Javi Garcia, 42 Yaya Toure, 15 Jesus Navas, 21 David Silva, 7 James Milner, 10 Edin Dzeko 4-2-3-1
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Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.