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Leicester City vs Blackburn Rovers betting tips: FA Cup Fifth Round preview, predictions, team news and odds

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Match preview

Will 2021 FA Cup winners Leicester City remain on track for another trip to Wembley?

Less than two years ago, the Foxes won this trophy for the first time ever, with Youri Tielemans’ rocket downing Chelsea.

Back then, Brendan Rodgers’ side achieved back-to-back fifth place finishes in the Premier League but, right now, they’re all the way down in 14th.

On Saturday, Leicester mustered just one shot, this worth 0.01 xG, as they were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at home.

So, concerningly, the Foxes have won just two of nine league matches since the World Cup, meaning they are a mere three points clear of danger.

Meanwhile, in the FA Cup, they’ve won two away games, both 1-0, with Kelechi Ịheanachọ the only scorer in both Gillingham and then Walsall.

Blackburn Rovers are right in the mix towards the top of the Championship, seeking to get back into the Premier League after 11 years away.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s team sit fourth, unbeaten in seven, following Saturday’s 3-1 victory at QPR; Sam Gallagher with a brace.

In this competition, the Riversiders dumped out Norwich before needing extra time in a replay to eliminate Birmingham last month.

Blackburn are six-times FA Cup winners, only six clubs can boast more, although the most-recent of these triumphs came 95 years ago.

Rovers also haven’t won in Leicester since 1991, losing each of their last four visits, with both streaks set to continue at the King Power.

Leicester City team news

After a completely lifeless performance on Saturday, Brendan Rodgers will surely be tempted to make changes.

James Maddison’s absence was a big blow; since the start of 2020/21, their league win percentage with him in the team is 46%, compared to 24% without.

Assuming he isn’t back for this one, the creative burden will be on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s shoulders again, although Youri Tielemans could come back into the side.

Kelechi Ịheanachọ will continue to lead the line, seeking to add to his 17 FA Cup goals, only 12 men have scored more than that in the 152-year history of the competition.

At the back, Ricardo Pereira came off the bench at the weekend, just his second appearance of the season following an ACL rupture.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ward; Castage, Faes, Souttar, Kristiansen; Mendy, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall; Tetê, Barnes, Ịheanachọ.

Blackburn Rovers team news

Centre-back Daniel Ayala and Bradley Dack are both out injured due to hamstring injuries.

Ben Brereton Díaz, who’s out of contract in the summer, has scored 11 goals this season, but Sam Gallagher’s brace at the weekend could see him keep his place.

With Thomas Kaminski out injured, Aynsley Pears will continue in goal.

Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Pears; Rankin-Costello, Hyam, Carters, Brittain; Travis, Buckley, Szmodics, Thomas, Hedges; Gallagher.

Leicester City vs Blackburn Rovers: Head to head statistics

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Ben Gray

Arsenal fan – follow them over land and sea (and Leicester); sofa Celtic supporter; a bit of a football '"encyclopedia".

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