Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea - Match Preview

02 December 2009 11:38

A strong Chelsea side stand in the way of Blackburn Rovers and a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals tonight.

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Sam Allardyce, who will not be present at Ewood Park tonight, will have to do without on loan Franco di Santo.

The Argentinian has been refused permission to play against his parent club tonight. David Dunn and Keith Andrews are both doubts after suffering calf injuries.

These are the only absentees for Rovers, however, and assistant manager Neil McDonald told that the tem will be strong.

He said: "From the first round to now, the manager has made changes, but he has gone stronger in each game because each game has become more important.

"No doubt he will do that again, there will be a couple of changes, but we are playing Chelsea and we have to play as strong a squad as possible."

Despite Ray Wilkins' claims that Chelsea want to win the competition, they are expected to make some changes.

Youngsters Gael Kakuta, Fabio Borini and Nemanja Matic could continue their progression into the Blues' first team and feature in Lancashire.

Ashley Cole is fit after limping out of the West Londoners' victory at Arsenal last weekend but Alex (hip), Daniel Sturridge and Jose Bosingwa (both knee) are all out.

Wilkins said: "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."

-by David Brenchley

Source: DSG