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Burton Albion will face Blackburn Rovers in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Saturday, 8 August, with both sides looking to start the new English football season in the best possible way.
League One and the Championship start next weekend, making this the final warm-up match for both sides ahead of the new season.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers key stats
- Burton Albion have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
- Blackburn Rovers have won two of their last four matches.
- Fewer than three goals have been scored in four of Burton's last five matches.
Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers preview: Don't expect a classic
Burton vs Blackburn — Tale of the Tape
| Burton | vs | Blackburn |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | Position | N/A |
| N/A | Points | N/A |
| N/A | Goals For | N/A |
| N/A | Goals Against | N/A |
| N/A | Clean Sheets | N/A |
| N/A | Home / Away Rank | N/A |
On paper, this is not one of the most exciting Carabao Cup matches this season, with both sides struggling for consistency over the summer.
Neither of these sides are expected to challenge for promotion in their respective leagues this season, and after finishing 17th last season, Burton will be just looking to avoid a campaign of looking over their shoulders.
Gary Bowyer has done a good job of stabilising the club since being appointed midway through the 2024/25 season, with the Brewers nine points from safety. The question is now whether he can take them to the next level.
Burton won just one of their final seven League One matches last season.
Bowyer has been handed four new signings so far this summer, and all four are in contention to play on Saturday, including Gbemi Arubi, who arrives with a big reputation following success in the Irish Premier Division.
As for Blackburn, this is a match they should win given that they play at a higher level than their opponents.
How much longer Blackburn remain a second-tier outfit remains to be seen, as poor investment into the playing squad is more than likely going to catch up with them at some point.
Blackburn won just one of their final six Championship matches last season.
Back in the hot seat at Ewood Park is Tony Mowbray, who successfully got Rovers out of League One the last time they sank to the third tier. Mowbray's job this time around is to prevent the club from dropping into League One again, while trying to perform a miracle to get them promoted.
Mowbray has only been given two new signings so far, and they are unlikely to move the needle too much. Pre-season has been a mixed bag, but they have recorded victories over Barnsley and Strasbourg in recent weeks.
Burton Albion vs Blackburn Rovers form guide & betting tips
| Burton | vs | Blackburn |
|---|---|---|
D
L
L
D
W |
Form |
D
W
L
W
D
|
| 2 | Goals For | 6 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 4 |
N/A |
Carabao Cup | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Burton Albion 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn have enjoyed a slightly better summer than Burton in terms of results, and their extra quality should see them scrape over the line. Blackburn to win has been priced at 13/10.
Four of Blackburn's last six matches have produced fewer than three goals. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 4/5.
Yuki Ohashi scored 10 goals in all competitions for Blackburn last season. Ohashi is priced at 2/1 to score anytime on Saturday.
> Blackburn to win at 13/10 (2.30) | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Probable
> Ohashi to score anytime at 2/1 (3.00) | Likelihood: Possible