Robinson the hero as Blackburn banish Blues

BLACKBURN had keeper Paul Robinson to thank for two penalty saves that sent them into the Carling Cup semi-finals at Chelsea’s expense last night.

Rovers will now meet Aston Villa for the right to go to Wembley after former England keeper Robinson saved from Michael Ballack and teenager Gael Kakuta, who took the last kick.

Benni McCarthy, Brett Emerton, Vince Grella and David Hoilett scored Rovers’ penalties, with Nikola Kalinic having his saved. Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda and Yury Zhirkov were successful for Chelsea.

In normal time, Blackburn had taken an early lead through Kalinic but Chelsea hit back after the break, with quick-fire goals from Drogba and Salomon Kalou, before Emerton’s cross deceived keeper Henrique Hilario.

But, with Chelsea down to 10 men after Kalou picked up an injury and having used all their substitutes at half-time, Rovers went ahead again through a McCarthy penalty, only for Paulo Ferreira to lash home the equaliser and force penalties.

Afterwards Rovers’ assistant manager Neil McDonald said he never stopped believing that Blackburn were capable of seeing off Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

“It’s been a rollercoaster night, we have played some good stuff and scored some good goals,’’ McDonald said.

“We have been up against a very good team and we had to show character in the end after conceding the very late goal.

“But we kept our nerve to get through on penalties and everyone in the changing room is delighted.

“We always had that belief. They changed their team and we felt that if they did that we would always stand a chance.

“We tried to stop their flow of football and scored some good goals against a team who don’t concede many.

“We have also kept our nerves on penalties. We are now in the semi-finals, two games away from Wembley, and everyone is very pleased.’’

Last night’s match represented McDonald’s last in temporary charge of Rovers, with Sam Allardyce set to be back in the dugout by the time they host Liverpool on Saturday.

McDonald admits last night’s win will have done little to help Allardyce’s recovery from heart surgery, but he is looking forward to handing back the reins. “He will have a huge smile on his face because this is what we wanted,’’ McDonald said. “We are looking forward to having him back, we have worked very hard with him away, but hopefully he can keep the run going.’’

BLACKBURN: Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Nelsen, Chimbonda, Emerton, Nzonzi (Van Heerden 91), Pedersen (Grella 62), McCarthy, Roberts (Hoilett 70), Kalinic.

CHELSEA: Hilario, Belletti (Bruma 46), Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira, Zhirkov, Mikel, Ballack, Deco (Drogba 46), Joe Cole (Kakuta 46), Kalou, Malouda.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).