Allardyce is desperate to bring in new attacking talent as Blackburn have managed to score just 20 goals in as many league games this season.

“Money is available and ideally I would like to bring in two more players who are tactically and technically astute. The chairman has been working extremely hard to find the additional funds for the players.” Allardyce told goal.com.

It is said that South African striker Benni McCarthy will be released in the transfer window which could help Blackburn finance both deals. Some clubs are said to be interested in McCarthy, Everton are said to be one of the club interested to sign the player who is thought to be available for £2 million.

Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea’s the off had eyes on winning the game which made for an open, enthralling encounter. Croatian Nikola Kallnic, who started the game like a man with something to prove, went close early on for the home side after great link up play with Jason Roberts.

Kallnic went one better minutes later as he gave Rovers a shock lead. Unusual hesitant Chelsea defending was seized upon by Pascal Chimbonda who broke down the right flank and squared the ball for the on-rushing Kallnic who slid the ball past Hilario.

Ancelotti was clearly not happy with his side’s first half showing and played his hand at half time by introducing all three of his substitutes. Youngsters Gael Kakuta and Jeffrey Bruma were introduced, but it was the third substitute who signalled the managers intent, Didier Drogba.

Within minutes of his arrival the in-form striker drew the visitors level. Throughout the first half Chelsea decided against firing balls into the box due to the lack of an aerial threat. The first time the ball was sent into an attacking wide area in the second half, Malouda didn’t waste anytime in pumping the ball into the box and Drogba was there to head home the equalilizer.

The game was turned on its head minutes later as Michel Salgado who had been a constant menace for Rovers in the opening period, gave possession away to Yuri Zhirov who played in Kalou, he raced through a static Rovers defence and calmly slotted the ball past a helpless Robinson.

With Chelsea in total control of the game, yet another defensive lapse gave Blackburn an equalizer with one of their first attacks of the second half. A high cross into the box by Emerton was comically dealt with by Hilario and Kallnic caused a nuisance of himself as the ball dropped over the line.

Blackburn started extra time in the same vein, putting severe pressure on the ten men, and it only took 90 seconds for Blackburn to take a deserved lead. Zhirkov brought down lively substitute David Hoilett in the box. McCarthy stepped up and confidently struck the penalty to give Rovers the lead.

However, the league leaders are made of steel and the visitors made it to the top of the hill. With the game seemingly over, Chelsea’s hero came from the most unlikely of sources. Frustratingly for Rovers, young Hoilett had two wonderful chances to seal the victory before Ferreira popped up in the 120th minute at the back post to take the tie to penalties with a composed finish.

Ballack missed Chelsea’s first attempt, but was cancelled out by Kallnic who had his spot kick saved by Hilario. After all the subsequent penalties was scored, Kakuta caved under the intense pressure which put Blackburn through to a semi-final clash with Aston Villa.

Watch Blackburn Rovers 3-3 Chelsea (4-3) Highlights Video here:

EPL Football News – Christopher Samba – arrived at Ewood Park from German side Hertha SC Berlin in January 2007 -  has signed a new contract with Blackburn Rovers which will last until 2014.

The French-born player had scored nine goals in 109 appearances with Blackburn

Blackburn chairman, John Williams explained their decision to extend Samba’s contract is because of his good performance.

“The deal is richly deserved through his performances over the past few seasons. He demonstrated a tremendous attitude in the last campaign when playing in an unfamiliar role as a striker.” he said.

photo credit: spox

English Premier League (EPL): Blackburn Rovers – Portsmouth 3-1 Highlights

Jason Roberts (bbc)

EPL Football News – Blackburn Rovers have stretched their winning home run to four as they came from behind to see off Portsmouth at Ewood Park.

Blackburn had dominated the opening exchanges with the creative David Dunn pulling the strings in midfield but Pompey took a shock lead with one of their first ventures into Rovers territory.

Jamie O’Hara, on loan from Tottenham, picked the ball up from 30 yards, and with few options available to him, he let fly with a bullet of a left foot strike which flew past a despairing Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal. It was a real moment of brilliance from O’Hara who has impressed for Pompey so far this term.

The goal seemed to spark Rovers into life as they started to up the pace and put Portsmouth under stiff pressure. Despite that, Portsmouth seemed comfortable dealing with the direct approach. David James was called upon on a couple occasions, but nothing was ever dangerous enough to worry the England international.

Dunn wasted a good opportunity from a set piece before former Spurs teammates O’Hara and Pascal Chimbonda clashed in an ugly incident. O’Hara tussled with Chimbonda and a punch was thrown in the direction of the Pompey midfielder which wouldn’t have been out of place in tonight’s WBA Heavyweight title clash in Germany. The pair were both booked when Chimbonda really should have seen red.

Allardyce rang the changes at half time with a double substitution and it was one of those substitutes, Jason Roberts, who drew Blackburn level. A Dunn corner was headed back into the danger zone by Ryan Nelson and Roberts was there to stab the ball home from close range.

The equalizer seemed to turn the game up a notch, which made for entertaining viewing. The game ebbed and flowed from end to end and the home crowd made their presence felt as Blackburn went close with the lively Roberts forcing a low save from James. Portsmouth still looked dangerous going forward, with another O’Hara long range effort that this time just flew past the post.

Despite Portsmouth pressure, Blackburn completed the comeback in the 73^rd minute from another Dunn corner. This time the ball was floated in and it was the skipper Nelson who, once again, beat his man and powered the ball into the back of the net to give Rovers the lead.

Blackburn sealed the win late on with a fantastic move that was made by one of the subs, Benni McCarthy, and finished by the other, Roberts. McCarthy broke down the wing and crossed for Roberts to finish what was a flowing move and seal the points for Rovers. Allardyce would have been delighted with the impact of his strikers and they both must be pushing for a starting place in Blackburn’s next game.

Benni McCarthy (guardian)

EPL Football News – According to KickOff.com, Benni McCarthy’s decline from first-choice Blackburn Rovers striker in 2006 to fringe squad player has prompted the player to look for a new club when the January window opens, according to the 31-year-old’s agent, Rob Moore.

Moore confirmed: “Benni [McCarthy] wants to leave Blackburn Rovers.

“He has not been given the chance to show his worth this season in the Premier League and there’s no denying that it seems like he is not the type of player Sam Allardyce is looking for.”

According to a report published in the Daily Mail, Portsmouth manager Paul Hart is keen on McCarthy despite the uncertainty over the club’s ability to act in the forthcoming transfer windows.

During the summer, McCarthy was also linked with a return to Ajax, where he began his career in Europe.

Football News –

The Togo targetman left the Gunners in acrimonious circumstances. He joined Mark Hughes’ Eastlands outfit in the summer in a £25 million transfer but was suspended for three games when he faced his former club earlier in the season.

Adebayor notoriously ran the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the travelling Arsenal fans after he scored a goal, and was also adjudged to have stamped on the face of Robin van Persie. This fixture, therefore, presents a mouthwatering grudge-match for neutrals and fans alike.

Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers host Chelsea, Aston Villa travel to Portsmouth and Manchester United take on Tottenham Hotspur in a repeat of last season’s final.

Fixtures in full:

Manchester City – Arsenal
Blackburn Rovers – Chelsea
Manchester United – Tottenham Hotspur
Portsmouth – Aston Villa

Matches to be played on the week beginning November 30, 2009.

Joe Cole

EPL Football News – According to The Daily Mirror, Joe Cole is set to sign a new four-year contract with Chelsea that will see him stay at Stamford bridge till he is 32. The England midfielder made his Premier League return after almost a year out form football, playing a starring role in the 5-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers.

The former West Ham United star’s current deal expires at the end of the season, and with Chelsea keen to sign on as many existing players as possible ahead of their impending transfer ban, Cole is understood to be commanding a deal worth £100,000 a week.

Although he has attracted persistent interest from Harry Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur, the playmaker has no plans of leaving the Blues for a reunion with his former manager.

“We’re talking at the moment about the future and we all agree what we want,” Cole said.

“I love it here [at Chelsea]. The club want me to stay, so there should be no problems. I feel like this is my home.”

Chelsea are seeking to add attacking back-up and midfield cover in January, when they will lose Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel to the African Cup of Nations.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is said to be interested in Serie A duo Marek Hamsik and Daniele De Rossi, while David Villa remains a long-term target.

EPL Football News -

It has been rumoured that Christopher Samba and David Dunn missed Saturday’s 5-0 defeat to Chelsea due to swine flu.

A Blackburn spokesman said: “A couple of cases of swine flu have been confirmed and other members of the squad and staff have complained of virus-like symptoms.”

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has not confirmed the cases but has admitted other members of the squad may have contracted the same virus.

“Dunny and Chris Samba have a virus and a couple of the other lads who were playing against Chelsea have that virus or we think they are coming down with it,” Allardyce told the club’s official website.

“We will hopefully get them back next week when we have to go to Old Trafford.

“But it is one of those viruses that can see you out for up to six days so we’ll have to see.”

If the cup tie against Peterborough was to be postponed due to swine flu cases it would not be the first time a match has been affected in this way. Sunday’s French Ligue 1 match between Marseille and Paris Saint Germain was postponed after several PSG players contracted the illness.

English Premier League: Chelsea FC vs Blackburn Rovers 5:0. Highlights.