Goals could be on the cards at Ewood Park

Having met each other in both domestic cup competitions, for the fourth time this season Blackburn Rovers meet Newcastle United.

On this occasion, the focus is very much on Premier League points that both sides need for differing reasons.

Blackburn’s desperate plight has been well documented and even though Steve Kean’s team have undergone something of a revival in terms of results, Rovers remain in the bottom three and truly engulfed in the relegation mire.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have been something of a surprise package and are currently in seventh position and in the hunt for Europe League football – great going for a team seemingly been stripped of all their main assets over the last twelve months.

It is 83/100 for the match to see over 2.5 goals and while it is a bet I fancy, having a go on the 2/1 that the match produces over 3.5 goals may be an even better shout.

So with a win of vital importance to both sides, bwin’s 3way football betting odds make interesting reading.

Blackburn are priced up at 29/20 to claim a win that could take them out of the relegation zone, while Newcastle are at 9/5 to secure three points that would take them above Liverpool – and possibly Arsenal – in the table. The draw is the longest price on offer at 23/10.

So it’s a close call, and that is no surprise. Kean’s relationship with the Ewood fans has been the subject of much coverage, but despite that Blackburn are in decent form, posting a 2-2-2 record over their last six league fixtures, taking eight points to have the ninth best record in that time.

Particularly impressive was their last home game, a 3-1 win over Fulham achieved playing with ten men for well over an hour.

Newcastle boast one more point over that period, wining three of their six games, although they are coming off the back of a disappointing defeat to Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday.

So with both teams in reasonable enough form and with little to choose between the teams in this season’s previous meetings – Blackburn won the Carling Cup tie at Ewood after extra time, Newcastle won the FA Cup tie and the league match at St James’ – the result of the match is a very tough one to call.

The best way to play this match could be to look at the goals markets. Both teams have been involved in matches over the last couple of months that have been full of goals and it is worth banking on a repeat when the two sides meet.

Both teams have a season-long trend of matches full of goals: nine of Blackburn’s 11 home game shave seen over 2.5 goals while six of Newcastle’s 11 away fixtures have also seen three goals or more.

It is 83/100 for the match to see over 2.5 goals and while it is a bet I fancy, having a go on the 2/1 that the match produces over 3.5 goals may be an even better shout.

Four of Rovers’ matches at home have seen more than 3.5 goals, including two of the last five, and both teams have scored in eight games at Ewood.

As for the Magpies, of those six away fixtures that have seen over 2.5 goals, five of them have seen over 3.5 goals – put the two teams together and I can see another exciting match.

Demba Ba and new signing Papiss Cisse could play after returning from the African Nations so that will give the Toon more firepower and though it could be a worry that Yakubu will not play for Blackburn because of suspension – Rovers’ top scorer was the player sent off in that win over Fulham – Blackburn scored four goals in two fixtures in his absence and have found the net in all but three of their home games so far this season.

A successful £25 free bet on there being over 3.5 goals when Blackburn play Newcastle is set to return £75, with the free bet available to new customers who sign up for a bwin account.

New customers can register here to claim a free £25 bet or click here to see all our Premier League odds.

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