Blackburn v Swansea: Patchy hosts’ FA Cup journey almost over
Published:
Swansea boss Garry Monk has had to learn hard truths during the transfer window, with the managerial rookie’s best player Wilfried Bony sold to Manchester City for an offer to good to refuse, while heir apparent Bafetimbi Gomis agitates for his own money-motivated switch.
Thankfully for Monk, some respite is on the way in the form of an FA Cup tie at Championship Blackburn, a club that can only reminisce about the ninth-placed Premier League side’s high-class problems.
Here are our three best bets for the fourth-round fixture.
Monk’s men aren’t exactly in exhilarating form, but they’ve only lost twice in their last seven all-competition clashes and have won two of four away games since mid-December.
Blackburn, who are no less than 20 places below Swansea in the 92-team league ladder, failed to win three of their past four at Ewood Park, losing two of those fixtures, so it’s plain to see there’s value in the visitors at odds-against.
With Wilfried Bony gone, Gomis clearly distracted and Ki Sung-yueng, who bagged two Premier League openers in December, on Asian Cup Duty, the onus falls to Sigurdsson to open the scoring in Lancashire.
The Iceland international has scored three first goals for club and country this term, with the last coming five games back against Aston Villa.
Swansea fired six past Tranmere on the road in the last round of the FA Cup, and showed their soft side when letting in five at home to Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Monk and co’s past five games have seen more than four goals apiece on average, with three going over 4.5 per match.
With half of Blackburn’s last six home fixtures also featuring at least three strikes, this goal line looks likely to be vaulted.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £25 in free bets.
