( From: rovers.premiumtv.co.uk ) IF Rovers are to progress through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup then they'll have to do it the hard way after a horror show in Greece.

Two goals in two mad minutes midway through the first half gave Giorgos Donis's side a healthy advantage ahead of the second leg at Ewood Park in a fortnight's time.

There weren't too many familiar names amongst the Larissa line-up but it was one of the few known players who gave the home side the lead on 33 minutes. Ibrahima Bakayoko's effort from distance deflecting past Friedel off Ryan Nelsen into the top corner of the net.

Bakayoko didn't enjoy the greatest of spells when he played for Everton, although of the four goals he scored in a year-long spell with the Merseyside club, two of them did come in a 2-1 victory Rovers in March 1999.

Sixty seconds later and the nightmare got worse for Rovers. Brett Emerton woefully underhit a back pass, Cleyton provided the finishing touch.

Rovers looked a shadow of the side that had been in the middle of an impressive fifteen game unbeaten run as they rarely threatened a lively Larissa side. Roque Santa Cruz had their best effort, but he somehow headed wide with just Kotsolis in the Larissa goal to beat.

But that was a rare effort at goal as the home side dominated for long spells, with Rovers grateful in the end that the scoreline wasn't increased further.

Mark Hughes put out his strongest possible line-up, with just the one expected change as Andre Ooijer came in to replace Christopher Samba. But despite this, Rovers chose the Panthessaliko Stadium to put in their worst performance of the season.

Despite the noise generated by the Larissa fans, down in the pitch the game was decidedly low key, Rovers seeing a lot of the ball, but unable to make anything of it on an awful surface. Perhaps that their best, and only, decent chance of the first half didn't touch the ground proved that point. A long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen was brilliantly controlled on the chest by striker Benni McCarthy, he turned and acrobatically shot towards goal only to see the ball strike the head of his marker and away to safety.

Time and time again Rovers had promising positions, usually from dead ball situations, but time and time again crosses or shots were straight into the arms of Larissa goalkeeper Stefanos Kotsolis.

The home side had offered little as an attacking force, but all that was to change on 33 minutes when they took the lead. It came courtesy of former Everton marksman Ibrahima Bakayoko. He turned well in a tight space some 25 yards out and advanced on goal before shooting, the ball taking a deflection off a Rovers boot which just did enough to send it over the despairing Brad Friedel and into the back of the net.

It was the first goal that Rovers had conceded in European competition this season, but the game had barely got back underway when the lead was doubled. Brett Emerton's back pass was woefully short and that allowed Alexandrou to advance towards goal, Friedel saved the initial effort but the ball was worked to Bakayoko and then to Cleyton Silva who fired home from 12 yards despite the best efforts of Friedel and Ooijer.

With a two-goal advantage, Larissa were able to relax and sit back, Rovers played out the remaining ten minutes pretty much in their opponent's half, but without ever forcing a meaningful save from Kotsolis.

Fotakis saw a free-kick palmed away by Friedel as Larissa started the second half strongly, but Roque Santa Cruz should have reduced arrears on 54 minutes. A high ball into the area found the Paraguayan in acres of space as the ball came down and with the goalkeeper stranded in no mans land, all the Rovers striker needed to do was head it over the 'keeper and into the net, but he somehow headed wide.

Circumstances continued to conspire against Rovers as they lost talisman Ryan Nelsen with what looked like a hamstring injury just before the hour mark. Zurab Khizanishvili replacing the Kiwi.

Mark Hughes cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, unimpressed with what he was seeing, he quickly made a second change, Matt Derbyshire replacing the ineffective Morten Gamst Pedersen.

As Rovers readjusted to their new shape they almost conceded a third, only a timely block from sub Khizanishvili stopped Bakayoko from getting his second goal on the night. Moments later midfielder Ilias Kyriakidis fizzed an effort narrowly over Brad Friedel's crossbar.

It was a performance that was akin to former Euro horrors from Rovers, gone was the confidence on the ball, passes were regularly astray, and their hesitant play allowed the Greek side to dominate.

Rovers had Brad Friedel to thank for ensuring that the lead wasn't stretched even further, making a sensational stop to deny Cleyton with his legs.

Tugay looked lively when he came on for Rovers with just over ten minutes to go, but time and time again Mark Hughes' side were wasteful in front of goal, despite enjoying a host of promising positions.

Mountains provide an impressive backdrop to the Panthessaliko Stadium, and is precisely what Rovers will have to climb if they are to progress through to the second round in a fortnight's time at Ewood Park.

LARISSA: Kotsolis, Ntampizas, Kyriakidis, Gkalitsios, Cleyton (sub Kalantzis 85 mins), Sarmiento, Fotakis, Alexandrou (sub Gkikas 77 mins), Foerster, Bakayoko (sub Venetis 90 mins), Katsiaros.

Subs not used: Kipouros, Boukouvalas, Bachramis, Kozlej.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Nelsen (sub Khizanishvili 57 mins), Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Savage, Pedersen (sub Derbyshire 62 mins), Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Tugay 78 mins).

Subs not used: Brown, Mokoena, Olsson, Roberts.

Booked: Katsiaros (Larissa), Warnock, Bentley (Rovers)

Attendance: 8,126

The Unbeatables!  (From: goal.com)

One side will probably lose their respective unbeaten status. Chelsea have gone 65 games without defeat at home whereas Rovers are unbeaten in 10 league games, and are unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions. Blackburn are also among the likes of Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool who have also gone unbeaten so far this season.

Best v Worst

Rovers have made their best start to the Premier League since 2001. Chelsea have made their worst start to the league in five years, after registering just ten points in half as many games.

Premiership Head To Head

In the Premiership, both home and away, Blackburn have more wins to their name than Chelsea with 11 wins to Rovers, 8 wins to Chelsea and 7 draws.

FORM GUIDE
 
Chelsea

Sep 2 v Aston Villa (A) LOST 2-0 (Prem)
Aug 25 v Portsmouth (H) WON 1-0 (Prem)
Aug 19 v Liverpool (A) DRAW 1-1 (Prem)
Aug 14 v Reading (A) WON 2-1 (Prem)
Aug 11 v Birmingham (H) WON 3-2 (Prem)

Blackburn Rovers

Sep 2 v Manchester City (H) WON 1-0 (Prem)
Aug 30 v MyPa (H) WON 2-0 (Uefa Cup Q)
Aug 25 v Everton (A) DRAW 1-1 (Prem)
Aug 19 v Arsenal (H) DRAW 1-1 (Prem)
Aug 16 v MyPa (A) WON 1-0 (Uefa Cup Q)
Aug 11 v Middlesbrough (A) WON 2-1 (Prem)

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Chelsea have been unfortunate with injuries this season and this misfortune continues against Blackburn. Drogba is out with a knee problem, Ballack has a bad ankle, which has left him out of the Chelsea Champions League squad for the group stage. Both Carvalho and Lampard are doubtful with thigh injuries whilst Andriy Shevchenko will miss out with a back problem. Chelsea still do have effective replacements for many of these positions.

Last Starting XI (v Aston Villa): Cech, Belletti, Terry, Alex, A Cole, Wright Phillips (J Cole), Makelele (Kalou), Essien, Malouda, Obi Mikel (Pizarro), Drogba.

Chelsea (from): Cech, A Cole, Makelele, Essien, J Cole, Sidwell, Drogba, Obi Mikel, Pizarro, Malouda, Kalou, Ben Haim, Cudicini, Wright Phillips, Terry, Alex, Belletti, Hilario

Blackburn Rovers

Robbie Savage will be the only doubt with a leg injury. Tugay is serving a one-match ban. Blackburn have near enough a full strength squad consisting of 5 strikers. Rovers do have David Bentley as well who has returned from England duty after taking part in the recent qualifiers.

Last Starting XI (v Manchester City): Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Savage (Tugay), Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz (Derbyshire), McCarthy (Ooijer)

Blackburn (from): Friedel, Ooijer, Warnock, Samba, Nelsen, Emerton, Savage, Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Bentley, Pedersen, Khizanishvilli, Reid, Mokoena, Henchoz, Rigters, Dunn, Derbyshire, Olsson, Roberts, Enckelman

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Shaun Wright Phillips is almost certain to start for Chelsea. After moving from Manchester City a few years ago for a staggering 21 million pounds, the young winger failed to establish himself amongst the world class players of Chelsea. Thankfully, the talented man has found himself in the team more often of late due to injuries and he has shined on all occasions. He is lightning quick and has good technical ability. He is also a goalscorer, as shown with his goal against Israel in England’s recent qualifier, where he was one of the best players.

Christopher Samba is the unsung Rovers hero far too often. He is extremely solid at the back along with partner and skipper Ryan Nelsen. However it is his aerial threat, which entertains as he often gets into the box for corners and often scores. He has recently been denied goals for various fouls however he usually pops up from nowhere and ends up heading home.

PREDICTION 

Mark Hughes knows that his side have a good chance to take points from Stamford Bridge, due to the vast amount of injuries in the Chelsea camp. However the Londoners do have exceptional cover players therefore shouldn’t miss injured players much. Mourinho will almost certainly complain about Blackburn’s physical approach to the game, but then again it is a tried and tested method used by Mark Hughes’s side as shown in the draw against Arsenal.

Chelsea will be on the back foot for parts of this game as they were against Aston Villa, due to Blackburn’s high quality attacking players, however they will almost certainly carve up a few chances. I think this will end in a draw because both teams will approach the game physically. 

Chelsea 1 Blackburn 1

Mushtaq Quraishi

MANAGER Mark Hughes believes Rovers could well be the team to break Chelsea's 65-game unbeaten home record when the two teams meet at Stamford Bridge in Saturday's tea-time kick-off.

Jose Mourinho's side haven't lost at home in the Premier League since February 2004, however Rovers are currently on an impressive 14-game unbeaten streak themselves, dating back to last season's FA Cup semi-final defeat against Chelsea, and Hughes is confident of setting the record straight.

"The last time we were beaten was in the cup semi-final against Chelsea and obviously we are up against them again," said the Rovers boss.

"It is a big ask, because they've got a fantastic home record, but it is there to be broken.

"The way we are playing at the moment - with a lot of confidence, a lot of ability and a real threat at the opposition goal - I think if anybody can possibly test Chelsea it certainly could be us.

"We are going there in good heart and I think you have to be confident when you go to places like Chelsea and Manchester United etc. We've always tried to test ourselves against the best and that is what we'll try and do again.

"Prior to Jose Mourinho going to the club, Blackburn's record at Chelsea was very, very good, so we'd hopefully like to make inroads into their home league form. It is a fantastic record that they have, but it is there to be broken and why can't we be the team that does it?"

Tickets for Saturday's 5.15pm clash will not be on sale on the day of the game, so fans need to purchase their tickets in advance, but collections are available from Stamford Bridge. Call the ticket office on 08701 123456 for further information.

( From: rovers.premiumtv.co.uk ) MARK Hughes was delighted to have claimed another point on their travels to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

Rovers had to defend for long periods, but were good value for the point at the final whistle after an excellent defensive performance.

"We are on a good run and I think the spirit that we showed today was evident for everybody to see," said Hughes after the game.

"Because we've got that spirit coursing right through the squad at the moment, when you come to places like Chelsea that spirit can get you through.

"Certainly when they were throwing things into the box towards the latter stages of the game you have to be strong both physically and mentally and I thought we were.

"We stood up to the challenge and I thought we were excellent."

That determination to defend was typified by Christopher Samba, the Congo international had to be stretchered off the field of play after receiving an accidental kick to the head with five minutes remaining.

"All of my team were prepared to put their bodies on the line today and as a consequence we've got some reward for it," added Hughes.

"You don't like seeing your players having to leave the field on a stretcher so there's real concern at the moment."

At the time of writing Samba is at Charing Cross Hospital waiting on the results of a scan, he was initially stretchered off unconscious, but is now up and talking and if all goes well he'll be able to travel back to the North West with the rest of his team mates.