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Blackburn vs CHELSEA: Carling Cup Preview

Carling Cup quarter-final


Venue:
Ewood Park

Date: Wednesday, 2 December 2009

Kick-off: 2000 GMT

 

Whilst we’ve won our last four games without conceding, Blackburn go into tonight’s Carling Cup quarter-final game having failed to score in their previous two games. So, having conceded five to us in our last meeting, they’ll have to tighten up defensively if they’re seriously after a place in the semis.

 

MANAGERS’ VIEWS

Sam Allardyce is still recovering from heart surgery but assistant boss Neil McDonald seems confident enough for the both of them, insisting “They (Chelsea) are very strong and have a fantastic squad, but they are not unbeatable.  Wigan have beaten them, Aston Villa have beaten them and we have to draw strength from that.  They were all away from home, and our home form has been fantastic, so we must continue that against Chelsea.  We have worked extremely hard to get to this point. Why should we say ‘just because we are playing Chelsea that’s us out?’ We have to remain positive.  It is a game of football, 11 versus 11.  They (Chelsea) have some fantastic players but it is a long way for them to come on a cold Lancashire night and we have to try and use that to our advantage if we possibly can.  With the crowd right behind us, it will spur us on to give a good performance.  Our home form is good and we are going to have a right go at them. It will be fantastic if the crowd is bigger than what it normally is for the Carling Cup, knowing that we are playing a very good team in Chelsea.  That will inspire the players to run even further and try even harder.”

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t seem have been particularly vocal ahead of tonight’s game, although assistant Ray Wilkins wonders whether the absence of Allardyce will have an effect tonight, stating “I think he would have been in touch with the guys, albeit not there, and we all wish him a speedy recovery. When you have a massive personality like Sam around the players, when he is not there you might have a slight wobble, but I am sure at home they will be an extremely tough side to beat for us.  We certainly approach every game to win it and we’ll be doing the same here. We would love to be in the Final of the Carling Cup, it’s the first trophy of the season and one we want to win so we’ll be going all out to do that.  Most certainly the side will be mixed up but it will be a very strong side, no question.”

 

SQUAD NEWS

For Blackburn, Franco di Santo is ineligible to play and David Dunn is a doubt with a calf injury. For us meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge (knee) and Jose Bosingwa (knee) remain out and Alex (hip) could also be out of action. Ashley Cole, on the other hand, is expected to be fit and Gael Kakuta could make his first start.

 

TEAMS

BLACKBURN (from): Robinson, Olsson, Chimbonda, Givet, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Diouf, Pedersen, Grella, Jacobsen, Nzonzi, Emerton, Hoilett, Kalinic, McCarthy, Roberts, Brown.

CHELSEA (from): Cech, Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, A Cole, Zhirkov, Carvalho, Terry, Essien, Lampard, Belletti, Mikel, Ballack, Malouda, Kakuta, Deco, J Cole, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba.

 

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 5-0 Blackburn (24th October 2009)

 

PREDICTION

This will be Blackburn’s first real test of the competition, having met Gillingham, Forest and Peterborough to get to this stage. It’s worth bearing in mind they haven’t lost in the last seven at Ewood Park and they know what they’re up against having failed to beat us in our last nine league and cup meetings. Having said that though, we won’t be putting a soft side out and current form doesn’t really point to anything but a Chelsea win.

 

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