Rovers make three changes for Carling Cup clash

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce made three changes for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa at Ewood Park.

Nikola Kalinic, Michel Salgado and Pascal Chimbonda all returned to the side following the 4-1 defeat by Manchester City on Monday.

Allardyce was looking for a repeat performance of the league victory against Villa rather than an action replay of the FA Cup defeat 12 days ago.

Villa were hoping to take another step towards winning a trophy after a 14-year absence.

Manager Martin O’Neill made four changes to the side that beat Blackburn with Richard Dunne, James Milner, Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor all back in the starting line-up.

Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba, Nelsen, Chimbonda, Salgado, Emerton, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Dunn, Kalinic.

Subs: Brown, McCarthy, Reid, Olsson, Hoilett, Di Santo, Jones.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Ashley Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Heskey, Agbonlahor.

Subs: Friedel, Luke Young, Sidwell, Carew, Delph, Reo-Coker, Beye.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)