Blackburn vs Sunderland: Crouch to strike in score draw

Peter Crouch can count Blackburn among his more favoured opposition and he can be expected to find the net against them again as Stoke travel to Ewood Park.

Crouch scored Stoke’s vital third goal in the 3-1 success over Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium in November, which was his fifth goal in as many games against the opposition.

The England striker has missed some of Stoke’s games over the Christmas period with a virus but should return rested to face Blackburn.

Therefore, 6/1 may prove a decent price in the Premier League odds that Crouch finds the target first against Blackburn.

Stoke have also triumphed in five of their last six meetings with Blackburn and can be backed at 8/5 to take another three points.

Blackburn may have lost five of their last six at Ewood Park, but they will have pinpointed their home clash with Stoke as a winnable fixture, with points now getting more desperate in the second half of the season.

With Blackburn needing the victory more, this could be the reason that they are favourites to win the fixture at 11/8, while the draw can be backed at 11/5.

Given Crouch’s impressive scoring record against Blackburn and the fact that Steve Kean’s team very rarely draw blanks despite their precarious league position, another lucrative market could be that of both teams troubling the scorers.

Therefore, 1-1 looks the potential pick of the correct scoreline market at 11/2.

Riskier punters may also want to consider the 14/1 available for a 2-2 draw.