Filed under: Blackburn Rovers, Carling Cup, League One, Football, Match Previews
CARLING CUP: EWOOD PARK, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2011. KICK-OFF: 2000 BSTWithout Blackburn's uplifting victory over Arsenal at the weekend this would be a clash of two teams looking to lift themselves out of the doldrums.
Steve Kean's side would no doubt be more than happy with the kind of performance that pulled Sheffield Wednesday to bits with a minimum of fuss in the previous round.
But for all their problems this season, Leyton Orient's experience in taking Arsenal to a replay in last season's FA Cup will give Russell Slade's men hope that they will not be rolled over at Ewood Park.
The Carling Cup is so often derided but this tie means plenty for both teams, with Blackburn not wanting to go back to 'Square One' after their fine effort against the Gunners, and the O's having the chance to give their season a kick-start.
Key Match-up: Yakubu v Ben Chorley. Kean may decide to give Yakubu another run as he looks to build his fitness following a spell in the wilderness at Everton. He started his Rovers career with two goals against Arsenal and defender Chorley is likely to be the man tasked with doing what Per Mertesacker failed to do.
Form Guide: The victory over Arsenal was Blackburn's first in five in the Premier League this season, a run which included three defeats from their opening games. Kean's side defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 to reach the third round of the Carling Cup. Orient are winless in five matches in all competitions since they beat Bristol Rovers 3-1 in the previous round of the Carling Cup.
Odds: Blackburn 1/3, Leyton Orient 8/1, Draw 4/1.
BLACKBURN:
Kean may have been a little optimistic when he said that 99 per cent of Blackburn fans are happy with the way things are going but there is no doubt that the win over Arsenal has taken a huge amount of pressure off his shoulders.
There is little question that slipping up against a team that is already making a home in the League One relegation zone would throw open all of the old questions.
The Scot is likely to make changes for the game at Ewood Park but maintains his team will not be taking Orient lightly despite it appearing to be one of the biggest mis-matches in this round of fixtures.
He said: "This kind of game can be a banana skin if you approach it in the wrong way but we won't do that. We'll have the same detail of preparation for Leyton Orient as we did against Arsenal.
"We'll realise where their strengths are and give them respect and it will be the same as if we had a Premier League game."
Despite spending much of his reign at Ewood Park battling against relegation, Kean can see what a decent run in the Carling Cup would bring.
He added: "This is a competition that has got to be respected. To get to a final and win something is the best feeling in the world and going and getting a winners' medal is something that was first mentioned when we were preparing for the second round.
"We will field a side we feel can win the game and play with an intensity. This could galvanise the whole support and keep momentum going for the whole season. That's why we're treating this competition very seriously."
Strategy: Kean will undoubtedly rotate to some extent but will not stray far from his usual tactics. He will have a solid base in front of the back four, with the likes of Ruben Rochina, Mauro Formica and Junior Hoilett given the opportunity to pop up anywhere in the final third to cause problems.
Injury update: Morten Gamst Pedersen could return after a hamstring problem but David Dunn, Ryan Nelsen and Michel Salgado will miss out with similar injuries.
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