Champions First Up for Rovers in Cup

Blackburn Rovers have today been drawn against Chelsea in the third round of the Carling Cup at Ewood Park. It will only be the second time the two teams compete in this competition.

The 2004-2005 winners of the competition will make the journey to Lancashire in the week commencing October 23rd. Chelsea have already made a successful trip to Ewood Park this season when they won the league fixture two-nil thanks to a debated Frank Lampard penalty and a powerful strike from Didier Drogba.

Last time they met in this competition it was way back during Roy Hodgson`s successful first season with the club in 1997. The fixture was played on an overcast night on 15th October at Stamford Bridge and had to be decided by penalties. Tenacious Scottish midfielder, Billy McKinley opened the scoring for Rovers who wore their wonderful rust coloured away shirts, but Roberto di Matteo equalised for the home side.

Chelsea went on to win four-one on penalties and progress to the final where they brushed aside a Middlesbrough team two-nil.

Rovers only success in this competition came in the 2001-2002 season when they lifted the trophy having over-powered a Tottenham side two-one.

Mark Hughes will no doubt be hoping to exact revenge for the disappointment earlier in the season in a competition that has served the club well in the new Millennium.

Here is the full draw:

Wycombe v Doncaster
Sheffield United v Birmingham
Leicester v Aston Villa
Watford v Hull
Leeds v Southend
Chesterfield v West Ham
Notts County v Southampton
Newcastle v Portsmouth
Charlton v Bolton
Liverpool v Reading
West Brom v Arsenal
Port Vale v Norwich
Everton v Luton
MK Dons v Tottenham
Crewe v Manchester United
Blackburn v Chelsea

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