Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea - Follow LIVE Text Commentary

21 March 2010 11:39
Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea

Follow every kick as Blackburn Rovers take on Chelsea in the Premier League
on 21-Mar-2010, kick off time 16:00

Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea Live

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Chelsea's minds have been focused back on the Premier League following another Champions League failure for the crestfallen Blues.

The manager might have changed from Jose Mourinho to Luiz Felipe Scolari, Avram Grant and now Carlo Ancelotti but the outcome was depressingly familiar for the Stamford Bridge faithful.

It was Mourinho who returned to rub salt into the wounds as his Internazionale side ran out 1-0 winners in the second leg of their last 16 tie on Tuesday night to triumph 3-1 on aggregate.

Afterwards a downbeat Ancelotti admitted the league and wrestling the title away from Manchester United's clutches is now their number one target for the remainder of the season.

Therefore the wounded Blues will be hoping that Blackburn Rovers are already starting to think about their summer holidays when they visit Ewood Park on Sunday.

Sam Allardyce's team have little to play for in the last nine matches of the campaign as they are ten points clear of the relegation zone and have no chance of clinching a place in Europe.

Allardyce has already started to plan for next season by handing first-team opportunities to several fringe players but his team will be keen to extend their excellent record at Ewood Park where they have lost only two of their 14 home matches so far this term.

In recent weeks they have failed to win any of their last nine matches on their travels though while emerging victorious in their last four home encounters against Bolton Wanderers, Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Fulham.

Those results have done much to extinguish any lingering relegation fears and Rovers can now start planning for a tenth successive season in English football's top-flight.

Jason Brown is expected to start in goal after coming on as a substitute for the injured Paul Robinson in last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham while Vince Grella (calf), Lars Jacobsen (groin) and Ryan Nelsen (knee) are all currently in the Ewood Park treatment room.

Chelsea may again start with Ross Turnbull in goal again unless Petr Cech and Hilario recover from calf and groin injuries respectively, while long-term injury victims Ashley Cole (ankle), Michael Essien (cruciate knee ligaments) and Jose Bosingwa (knee) all definitely miss out.

Although Ancelotti's side remain imperious in the league at Stamford Bridge, despite last month's shock 4-2 defeat to Manchester City, they are less secure on their travels.

They have already lost at Everton, Manchester City, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa with another setback at Ewood Park not out of the question.

Source: DSG