Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley; Carabao Cup Second Round
Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley. Carabao Cup Second Round.
Ewood ParkAttendance16,313.
Blackburn v Burnley preview: Chris Wood available for Clarets debut
Tuesday 22 August 2017 16:22, UK
Record signing Chris Wood is available to make his Burnley debut in the Lancashire derby with Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday.
The New Zealand striker has moved to Turf Moor from Leeds for a fee that could rise to £17million and can still feature in the Carabao Cup second-round match having been an unused substitute for the Whites in the first round.
Blackburn, who won at Coventry in the first round, finally got off and running in Sky Bet League One with a win at Bradford on the weekend, with Dominic Samuel scoring the only goal in a 1-0 triumph.
Team news
Blackburn have limited options, with Bradley Dack added to their injury list. Scott Wharton rolled his ankle in training to join fellow defenders Ryan Nyambe (knee) and Darragh Lenihan (foot) on the sidelines.
Boss Tony Mowbray admits he has "half an eye" on the home game with MK Dons on Saturday so could rest Corry Evans, who has only just returned from a groin injury, in favour of Peter Whittingham.
Though it is a contest against their bitter rivals, Burnley manager Sean Dyche is likely to make changes so Charlie Taylor, Jonathan Walters and Ashley Westwood could be among those starting.
Opta stats
Blackburn are winless in six matches against Burnley (D3 L3) with all those encounters coming in the Championship.
Rovers have only reached the third round once since relegation from the Premier League in 2012 - they did so last season, losing 1-0 to Leeds at Elland Road.
The Clarets, meanwhile, are looking to reach the third round for the first time since 2013/14 - in the last three seasons, sides from lower divisions have eliminated them.
Tony Mowbray has only progressed from one of his eight English cup ties as a manager against sides from a higher division, eliminating Sunderland in the League Cup fourth round in October 2012 as Middlesbrough boss.
Prutton's prediction
This should be a tasty Lancashire affair. Blackburn finally got off and running in League One after a terrible start to the season and Tony Mowbray will want them to keep that going in midweek.
For Burnley, meanwhile, it was back to reality against West Brom after their brilliant opening-day win at Chelsea. Sean Dyche will surely make changes but the Clarets should be comfortable.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 (10/1 with Sky Bet)