FOOTBALL : Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen is tired of near misses in domestic cup competitions.
Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen is tired of near misses in domestic cup competitions.
Rovers host Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Wednesday night having bowed out of the tournament at the same stage for the last two years. During Nelsen’s time at the club, Blackburn have also twice reached the FA Cup semi-finals, and the defender hopes the team will be ready to seize the moment this time around.
“In the five years I have been here, we have got really close on a number of occasions and it becomes really frustrating,” Nelsen said. “When you get to this level, it is about taking your chances and hopefully they will fall for us.”
He added: “If we can do what we need to do at both ends of the park, then hopefully we can sneak through.”
Blackburn will also be looking to make amends for the 5-0 defeat they suffered at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.
Several members of the squad had swine flu at the time and Nelsen believes they will now be able to give a much better account of themselves in front of their home crowd.
“The team that played Chelsea a few weeks ago should have been on a sick bed more than on a playing field, so we will be fresher,” Nelsen continued.
“Chelsea have the quality to beat any team by any score and they proved that on Sunday against Arsenal. We know what we are up against – an extremely good team.
“But at Ewood Park, I think we are a bit of a different story.
“The home form since Sam Allardyce has been here has been perfect – we have lost only twice and it’s pushing on for a year now. Chelsea coming here will always put out a strong side but it is a game we are really looking forward to.”
