Blackburn vs Chelsea: visitors can conjure up late winner

Blackburn goes into this weekend’s home tie in desperate need of points, but their long odds of 6/1 are understandable considering they face a Chelsea side that is a wounded animal in light of recent results and off-field speculation.

In each of the meetings between these two teams last season, the sides went into half-time level, with the London outfit eventually coming out on top on both occasions.

The draw in 90 minutes this weekend is 10/3, but it could be worth backing the draw at half-time and a full-time Chelsea win, at a terrific 7/2.

Chelsea’s odds are 4/9 to triumph and have lost their last two Premier League games, uncharacteristically conceding six goals across the two fixtures, and they will look to recapture their usual stubbornness with regards to limiting the amount of chances they allow the opposition to create.

That said, a trip to Ewood Park is not the ideal tonic for a defence currently suffering organisation woes, and Chelsea’s resolve against Blackburn’s aerial barrage, and ability to cope with the pace and trickery of David Hoilett, could prove key in achieving a positive result.

Indeed the form of Hoilett and Ruben Rochina for the home side, along with the eye for goal of the ever-improving Juan Mata and continued resurgence of Fernando Torres for the visitors, make the 4/6 for both teams to score look an attractive price.

Blackburn will be looking to get off to a good start to stem the negativity surrounding boss Steve Kean, and with this in mind, 11/4 seems a decent price for Rovers to score the first goal of the game.

Those who fancy Chelsea for the first goal could do worse than to ignore the 4/11 available, and find more value in backing an individual scorer.

Frank Lampard has rediscovered his scoring touch of late, and the penalty specialist looks too big to score first at 6/1.