Betdistrict.com
Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United will fight it out for a place in the FA Cup quarterfinals, with the visitors currently set as 2.35 odds favorites by the bookmakers.
Blackburn is sitting on the 18th place in the Championship and, even though they shouldn`t have problems with relegation, it has been a poor season for them. Blackburn is on the back of a 3-0 win against Fulham, but it was their first league victory in their last 10 games! Since mid – December, Blackburn won just three matches: the one against Fulham and two cup victories against Newport Country and Oxford United, opponents playing in League Two.
West Ham qualified to this stage after an incredible win over Liverpool two weeks ago, with the Hammers scoring the winning goal in the 121st minute. They backed up that result with a 2-2 road draw against Norwich, so West Ham is in pretty good shape right now, like they have been all this season under Slaven Bilic. Currently 7th in the Premier League, West Ham has every chance for both an European placement and a long FA Cup run.
Bet on Blackburn – West Ham and get your 100 Eur welcome bonus at Ohmbet now!
Team news & lineups:
Graham and Grimes are the only unavailable players for Blackburn, who should field the first choice lineup here. West Ham is also expected to send a very strong first 11 with no more than a couple of changes, but they do struggle with injuries ahead of this game. Sakho, Valencia, Ried, O’Brien, Byram, Carroll and Tomkins are unavailable.
Blackburn: Steele – Marshall, Duffy, Hanley, Spurr – Bennett, Lenihan, Evans, Gomez – Jackson, Brown
West Ham: Randolph – Antonio, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell – Noble, Obiang, Kouyate – Payet, Emenike, Moses
With West Ham expected to treat this game seriously and not use rotation, they should have too much for this shaky Blackburn side – even though the hosts have gained some momentum after finally winning a game in the Championship and winning it in style. Still, the last time Blackburn won a match against a team not fighting for relegation in the Championship (or not being in an inferior division) was way back in November, when they claimed a 2-1 victory over mid-table side Preston.
My tip is West Ham to win with a +0 asian handicap (DNB). This bet is mostly against Blackburn, as they are a rather poor side, are not in good form and they don`t seem capable of troubling a solid Premier League side in these circumstances. Seems like at the very least West Ham should earn a replay, but I believe they will be able to finish the job on the road. Prediction: Blackburn Rovers – West Ham United 1-2.
Pick: West Ham (+0 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.70 @ 18Bet
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 5.60
Event date: 21 February
