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Second chance for cup semi-final

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 14/01/2010
Football betting

Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa should finally be able to play the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Ewood Park on Thursday evening.

The tie was called off just over a week ago due to the big freeze which swept the country, but the thaw means that the game will go ahead second time around.

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Rovers go into the game looking to turn things around after a 4-1 Premier League mauling at Manchester City on Monday evening, with boss Sam Allardyce threatening to make changes.

He said after the Eastlands reverse: "Playing well in one game guarantees you a place in the next one. Not playing well puts your semi-final place under threat and that was a bad night.

"Thursday is a great game, it is a massive opportunity to get to Wembley and some of the players have jeopardised their position to play in the best game they have had for many years.

"The disappointing thing is that I wanted a hard job picking a team.

"Unfortunately the team hasn't played to its best and it has left me opportunities to make changes wherever I feel like it."

Allardyce will be hoping that strike duo Jason Roberts (knee) and Benni McCarthy (back) recover in time to challenge for places, while El Hadji Diouf should return after suspension.

Online betting favourites Villa's last outing came in the FA Cup third round, when they beat Rovers 3-1 at Villa Park thanks to goals from Nathan Delfouneso, Carlos Cuellar and John Carew.

Since then the bad weather has left Martin O'Neill's men twiddling their thumbs, but they will undoubtedly be raring to go on Thursday evening.

The time off will have given England winger James Milner the chance to fully overcome a foot injury, leaving centre-back Curtis Davies (shoulder) as Villa's only major injury absentee.

Key defender Richard Dunne is hoping that Villa can secure a first piece of silverware since 1996, when they won the League Cup by beating Leeds United 3-0 in the final.

Dunne told the Express & Star: "Every footballer's ambition throughout their careers is to win something.

"I suppose for the young lads, the more they can win at a younger age, the more experience and the more hunger it will give them to win more.

"I suppose it is the same everywhere - if you get your first trophy it will hopefully lead to more and breed confidence around the side."

Earlier this season the league meeting of the two sides in Lancashire ended in a 2-1 victory for the home side, with David Dunn converting a late penalty.

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