12:10pm Saturday 20th March 2010
By Andy Cryer
SAM Allardyce has warned his Blackburn Rovers side ‘beware the wounded beast’ after suggesting Chelsea’s European exit could give them the Premier League edge.
Chelsea travel to Ewood Park tomorrow on the back of a convincing Champions League defeat to Inter Milan but Rovers boss Allardyce admits he expects the Blues to produce a response.
He said: “If we can spoil the party in their title race, then great. But if they keep playing the way they have been, they are going to be very close to winning the Premier League this year.
“I think Chelsea will react to that defeat. They now have the title to play for and they will be fully focused on that but our form at home is good and we are not going to give them an easy game.
“We are into single figures in games and they have not got the distraction of the Champions League now.
“It probably makes them slight favourites to win the league because they have not got the extra pressure games so they can get ready for the next league match.”
Skipper Ryan Nelsen will miss the game with a knee injury, while Vince Grella (calf), Paul Robinson (calf) and Lars Jacobsen (groin) are also missing.
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