Blackburn Rovers must do everything in their power to avoid a banana skin at Burton Albion. Tony Mowbray's tenure as head coach begins at the same place it started before. At the Pirelli Stadium. Mowbrayball2.0 is going to be a work in progress but this first competitive game will give supporters their first glance at a new-look Rovers.
What happened?
With most of pre-season games being overseas or behind closed doors, there will be many who haven't seen the team in the flesh since May. Having rounded off their pre-season matches with friendlies against fellow League One opposition in Blackpool and Huddersfield Town - drawing both games 1-1 - this offers a similar test for Rovers.
Why it matters for Blackburn Rovers
Burton are no mugs and, managed by ex-Rover Gary Bowyer, will fancy sending a statement to their own fans. Whilst it could be viewed that there is no way to win, by beating a side you'd be heavily expected to, there is certainly a way to lose.
What comes next?
I am quite a fan of the decision to alter the fixture calendar for the first round of the Carabao Cup. It was a chore in its previous slot, sandwiched between matchday one and two of the Championship calendar. Giving it its own weekend, almost as the perfect bridge between pre-season and the league, will likely see more teams treat it seriously.
I think we will see fewer wholesale changes across the round than we might have. For Rovers, I think it's really important to leave little to chance. I will preface this by saying that if they lose, it will not be the end of the world. But winning would also be important.
Having spent pre-season managing minutes and fitness loads, it's a great opportunity for Mowbray to pick a team close to what he feels will be the core of his best XI. That might look slightly different to the team that turns out at Molineux, considering the opposition and what will be expected of Rovers with the ball, but most of the players will be similar.
I see little reason not to go strong. With Balazs Toth in net, Ryan Alebiosu and Sean McLoughlin in defence and Adam Forshaw patrolling the midfield. Todd Cantwell and Ryoya Morishita ahead trying to inject creativity. Let the rest fight it out and pick on merit. Left-back is a coin toss. Jake Garrett surely deserves a start considering the other injuries in central midfield. Left-wing is anyone's guess. Andri Gudjohnsen could probably benefit from the minutes up front.
By going strong, Rovers at least remove any doubt that they could have done more. If they lose, they lose but don't leave it to chance, especially given the opposition. Considering the difficulty of their opening two fixtures - Wolves away and Middlesbrough at home - it's not inconceivable that they don't win either. Then you're chasing your tail a touch against Queens Park Rangers, Lincoln City and Preston North End. The narrative suddenly begins to build and a nervous fan base grows even more so.
Burton are a decent side but as Mowbray said himself with regard to Blackpool and Huddersfield, they're games he wants to be a mismatch. It's worth noting Rovers' record in the cup competitions under the new head coach is not sparkling either. We have seen the benefits of cup runs under Jon Dahl Tomasson, though this is more about avoiding unnecessary panic. I repeat, it will not be a disaster if Blackburn Rovers exit the Carabao Cup. But the upshot of treating it like a league fixture far outweighs the potential downsides of losing.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet underway): 20th in Championship, 52 pts, 13W-13D-20L from 46 games, recent form LWDLD. Goals this season: 42 scored, 56 conceded (-14 goal difference). Title race: 43 points behind leaders Coventry.
