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2011-09-20 - Blackburn Rovers vs Leyton Orient
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Carling Cup
Tuesday 20 September 2011 - Kickoff 7:45pm
Blackburn Rovers
Go back 3 days and there was nothing but doom and gloom surrounding Ewood Park as a protest was being organised to remove Steve Kean from the manager job and the owners had to release statements that were effectively a vote of confidence on their choice of manager: one win later, and there is renewed optimism at the club.
Blackburn moved up to 16th in the Premier League table after beginning the weekend at the bottom of the pile, courtesy of a 4-3 win over Arsenal, their first win in the League this season. That means Blackburn improved their record to 1-0-2 at Ewood Park this season, scoring 5 goals but conceding 6.
The team were a little unfortunate not to have won their previous home game when missing two penalties against Everton, but the win over Arsenal was impressive considering the performance was solid too. They have also won a Carling Cup tie at home this season when beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 in the last Round.
They have actually only lost 1 of their last 6 Carling Cup games at Ewood Park.
David Dunn and Ryan Nelson are out for the home side and it is expected that they will make some changes for the game from the side that beat Arsenal. However, Kean did play a fairly strong team in the win over Sheffield Wednesday in the last Round and I would expect he will be thinking of doing the same in another winnable game.
Leyton Orient
The Leyton Orient management and players were promised a trip to Las Vegas by the owner Barry Hearn when they managed to force a replay against Arsenal in the FA Cup last season courtesy of a last minute goal. However, things have not started so well this season as Orient look to surprise another Premier League club in a cup competition.
The team are bottom of League One after 9 games played this season and they are yet to pick up their first win of the season. They have a 0-2-7 record overall, scoring 5 goals and conceding 19 although both of their points have been achieved away from Brisbane Road where they are 0-2-2, scoring 1 goal and conceding 7.
The only win Leyton Orient have managed all season came at home in the last Round of this competition when they beat Bristol Rovers. They also won a penalty shoot out at Southend in the 1st Round, but they come into this game having lost back to back home games 1-3. Leyton Orient are unbeaten in their last 2 away games since being thumped 5-0 at Brentford.
Leyton Orient are actually unbeaten in their last 3 away games in the Carling Cup, winning a penalty shoot out this year at Southend, but they have won games at Swindon and Colchester in the last 2 seasons.
Scott Cuthbert is suspended for this game. Russell Slade made a few changes for their win over Bristol Rovers in the last Round so it will be interesting to see what he does in this game considering their League position.
Prediction
I will once again say that stakes should be kept to a minimum in the Carling Cup because we are second guessing managers and their ambitions.
Blackburn should want to keep the momentum from the result against Arsenal so while I expect a couple of changes, I would be surprised if Steve Kean risks exiting this tournament and once again feel the wrath of the fans that clearly are not sold on him.
They face a team that is lacking belief and really struggling in the League this season, and conceding far too many goals especially at home.
Leyton Orient have worked hard to earn results in their last 2 away games, but we could see Russell Slade make a couple of changes too to get his players fresh and ready for League action at the weekend. Orient have been playing twice a week for the last couple of weeks, so they may see this as a chance to rest their key players as the priority has got to be the League.
Blackburn disposed of League One Sheffield Wednesday in the last Round and I will look for them to get a win by a couple of goals in this one too.
The Pick :
Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Leyton Orient
