Rovers face Walsall in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday night in what will be the 18th competitive meeting between the two sides in history. 

The last meetings were in the League One campaign of 2017/18, when Rovers completed the double over the Saddlers on the way to promotion.

The only previous meeting in the League Cup came on 6th November 2002 at Ewood when holders Rovers scraped through 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time. The successful penalty takers were John Curtis, Ciccio Grabbi, David Dunn, Alan Mahon and Marc Richards (pictured below, with keeper Alan Kelly).

This season will be the 64th League Cup campaign Rovers have been involved in and only seven times have the club been knocked out at this stage of the competition - including the embarrassing home defeat to Morecambe in 2021 in front of just 5,982 supporters.

After years of poor cup form under Tony Mowbray, last season provided some excellent memories as Rovers reached the League Cup 4th Round and FA Cup quarter-final with Jon Dahl Tomasson in charge.