Mansfield Town vs Blackburn Rovers Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Blackburn had a nightmare opening day of the season. They were 3-0 down at home at the break against Norwich and ultimately slumped to a 4-1 defeat, a result that only heightened fears they could be relegation candidates this season. Owen Coyle has a big job on his hands not just over the course of the season but also over the next 24 hours as he looks to rebuild confidence in his side ahead of this game.

Rovers have an awful recent record in the League Cup though so the omens aren’t good here. They’ve been dumped out by lower league sides at the first hurdle in each of the past 4 seasons and they’ll be hoping that Mansfield don’t do what Scunthorpe, Shrewsbury and Carlisle have done to them in this round in recent years.

Mansfield haven’t won a League Cup tie since 2006 but they have been in the non-league for some of that period and this is their first home tie in the competition since they hosted Portsmouth in the 2nd Round a decade ago.

They got off to a good start in the league, winning an entertaining game 3-2 at Newport County on Saturday with Kevan Hurst netting a dramatic late winner. They’ve only lost 1 of their last 7 competitive games and saw off Bolton in pre-season so they’ll be optimistic about their chances here.

Blackburn have lost some key players this summer and the new arrivals may take some time to bed in so this has real upset potential. Mansfield will be up for this and will fancy their chances of progressing and potentially landing a money-spinning 3rd Round tie. Given that backing Mansfield Draw No Bet at 6/4 looks to offer good value here.