Source: Daily_Mail
Sam Allardyce blasts Blackburn fans' poor show for semi-final clash at Villa
Bemused: Allardyce[LNB]Martin O'Neill yesterday told Aston Villa supporters they had never had it so good. In contrast, Sam Allardyce turned on Blackburn's fans for failing to back their team.[LNB]Both managers had gripes going into the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final, but one thing is certain no negativity will be found among the camp that lands a trip to Wembley.[LNB]Villa are hot favourites to reach their first final in a decade thanks to James Milner's goal at Ewood Park last week and O'Neill was firmly on the front foot. 'This is as good a footballing side as Villa fans have seen here for some time,' he said.[LNB] 'Without question, they've had some excellent players over the last two decades. But I think this is as good a footballing side as they would have seen.[LNB]'Players such as James Milner, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing are getting better. The best is yet to come.'[LNB]Allardyce, however, has been stunned by the apathy which has seen just 1,500 Rovers fans buy tickets for the tie. He said: 'If the fans aren't as excited as we are then it's hard luck. They'll be moaning when we get to the final and they can't get a ticket.'[LNB] ASTON VILLA (probable, 4-4-2): Guzan; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Downing, Petrov, Milner, A Young; Heskey, Agbonlahor.[LNB]BLACKBURN (probable, 4-4-2): Robinson; Givet, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson; Nzonzi, Chimbonda, Emerton, Pedersen; Dunn; Kalinic.[LNB]Referee: Martin Atkinson[LNB]TV: BBC 1, 7.30pm (kick-off: 7.45).[LNB] El-Hadji Diouf and Morten Gamst Pedersen back to boost Blackburn against Aston VillaBLACKBURN ROVERS FC
