Shabani Nonda blew his chance of a Barclays Premiership hat-trick but still sent Blackburn soaring into the top 10 as two first-half strikes sunk dismal Portsmouth by 3-0 at Ewood Park.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes appeared to have Wednesday night’s Barclays Premiership clash with Arsenal on his mind as he made four changes for today’s Ewood Park clash with Portsmouth.

Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock is eligible for the UEFA Cup game against Bayer Leverkusen tomorrow even though he played in the Champions League for Liverpool.

GOALS from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou kept Chelsea in touch with leaders Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Manchester United took their time before turning on the style against Watford to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premiership.

Manchester City 0 Blackburn 3

Wigan crashed to a fifth consecutive defeat to plunge their fast disintegrating season into further crisis.

Blackburn central defender Andy Todd is expected to recover from an ankle injury and face Reading in the Barclays Premiership tomorrow.

LUCAS NEILL turned the jeers to cheers as he scored a dramatic late winner for Blackburn in last night’s vital UEFA Cup match. The Australia defender came under fire from a section of the home support at the weekend in the defeat by Newcastle.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has made six changes to the side that lost to Newcastle for tonight’s UEFA Cup game at Ewood Park.

THE FA have rejected Blackburn’s defender Stephane Henchoz’s claim for wrongful dismissal in Saturday’s defeat by Newcastle.

The Football Association have rejected Blackburn defender Stephane Henchoz’s claim for wrongful dismissal in Saturday’s defeat by Newcastle.

Blackburn central defender Andy Todd could return to the side for the UEFA Cup tie against Nancy at Ewood Park tomorrow.

Blackburn 1 Newcastle 3

MOROCCAN defender Talal El Karkouri crashed home a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Charlton celebrated 14 years back at The Valley by climbing off the foot of the Barclays Premiership and giving new manager Les Reed his first win.

Charlton 1 Blackburn 0

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has admitted the diving culture is far more prevalent now than it was in his playing days.

Blackburn 2 Fulham 0

Craig Bellamy returned to the Liverpool starting line-up as Rafael Benitez’s side looked to secure their first Premiership away win of the season at Wigan.

MARK HUGHES is calling on his players to rise to the challenge in Rotterdam tonight — just as he did 15 years ago.

Robbie Savage returned to the Blackburn team ahead of schedule for this Barclays Premiership game at Ewood Park.

WIGAN manager Paul Jewell is poised to sign a new five-year deal with the club, and hoping to follow that by splashing out £12.5m of chairman Dave Whelan’s money.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell is poised to sign a new five-year deal with the club - with the hope then of splashing out £12.5m of chairman Dave Whelan’s money.

Stephane Henchoz and David Thompson have been released by Wigan.

Wigan 3 Aston Villa 2

Wigan 3 Aston Villa 2

Wigan boss Paul Jewell is facing a selection headache for Tuesday night’s Barclays Premiership clash with Aston Villa after losing central defenders Arjan de Zeeuw and Matt Jackson at Newcastle.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was again left on the bench by Alex Ferguson as Manchester United looked to complete an eight-day double over Wigan.

Man Utd 4 Wigan 0

Manchester United 4 Wigan Athletic 0

Wigan striker Jason Roberts is adamant there will be no feeling of awe tomorrow when the club attempt to win the first major trophy in their history.

FOR a man accustomed to the glint of silver, the Carling Cup is not a trophy to get overly excited about. Except this year is different for Alex Ferguson.

Wigan striker Jason Roberts is certain to return to the starting line-up for Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Manchester United despite missing the club’s last three matches through suspension.

Graham Kavanagh is aiming to write the ultimate happy ending to his own personal fairytale when he returns to Cardiff on Sunday.

Tottenham had to come from behind twice to squeeze a point from an exciting Barclays Premiership encounter with Wigan at White Hart Lane.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell is refusing to bask in the success of guiding the club to the brink of Barclays Premiership safety in their debut season in the top flight.

Bolton 1 Wigan 1

Wigan 1 Everton 1

PERHAPS the best piece of advice ever handed out to football referees came from Alan Hardaker, a much-respected former Football League secretary.

Wigan’s unlikely success story continued tonight as Jason Roberts scrambled home a priceless away goal in the last minute of extra time to book Paul Jewell’s side a place in the Carling Cup final.

Middlesbrough 2 Wigan 3

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing finally made his long-awaited return from a five-month lay-off after undergoing knee surgery for today’s Barclays Premiership clash with Wigan at The Riverside.

New Wigan signings David Thompson and Neil Mellor go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Premiership clash at Middlesbrough.

Matt Jackson looks certain to return to the Wigan side for the FA Cup replay against Leeds tomorrow as Stephane Henchoz is suspended.