Lacombe wary of Rovers threat

COACH Bernard Lacombe remains wary of the threat of Blackburn Rovers could pose his Olympique Lyonnais team in the Stade de Gerland tonight.

But he pledged that the French club would abandon the defensive shackles they wore at Ewood a fortnight ago and go all out for a crucial second goal.

"We are going to try to attack," he said.

"We are going to play the match normally, even though getting the goal away from home was important. We know that if we can score we will be in an even better position.

"But we do not have the European experience that Blackburn have because of their foreign players."

Lacombe gave a gallic shrug of sympathy when he realised the depth of Rovers' striker crisis.

"If I had my four main strikers injured it would be a problem for me," he said.

"It would be a problem for any team, except maybe Chelsea!

"We are frightened of Sutton and Davies and I am happy that they will not play. "But Duff may cause us problems that we would not have otherwise encountered because he is quick.."

But the French coach who has steered his team into a title challenging position still unbeaten so far this season is taking nothing for granted.

"We have got more confidence that I would imagine Blackburn have," he said.

"We are doing well in the championship and we are already one goal ahead. But you have to be careful especially against the Germans and the English."

Lacombe could well have a problem with his playmaker Vikash Dhorasoo who picked up a kick behind the knee in their 0-0 draw at Nancy on Friday night.

Standing by is Steed Malblanque, a highly rated young player who will make his full Lyon debut if he starts against Rovers.

Basically, Lyon are expected to employ a similar system to the one they adopted at Ewood, 4-3-1-2, with Dhorasoo or Malblanque in the 'hole.'

They could however also make the odd change with David Linares expected to replace Christian Bassila on the left hand side of midfield.

Lyon''s likely team is: Coupet, Carteron, Laville, Fournier, Delmotte, Bak, Violeau, Linares, Dhorasoo, or Malblanque, Grassi, Caveglia. COACH Bernard Lacombe remains wary of the threat of Blackburn Rovers could pose his Olympique Lyonnais team in the Stade de Gerland tonight.

But he pledged that the French club would abandon the defensive shackles they wore at Ewood a fortnight ago and go all out for a crucial second goal.

"We are going to try to attack," he said.

"We are going to play the match normally, even though getting the goal away from home was important. We know that if we can score we will be in an even better position.

"But we do not have the European experience that Blackburn have because of their foreign players."

Lacombe gave a gallic shrug of sympathy when he realised the depth of Rovers' striker crisis.

"If I had my four main strikers injured it would be a problem for me," he said.

"It would be a problem for any team, except maybe Chelsea!

"We are frightened of Sutton and Davies and I am happy that they will not play.

"But Duff may cause us problems that we would not have otherwise encountered because he is quick.."

But the French coach who has steered his team into a title challenging position still unbeaten so far this season is taking nothing for granted.

"We have got more confidence that I would imagine Blackburn have," he said.

"We are doing well in the championship and we are already one goal ahead. But you have to be careful especially against the Germans and the English."

Lacombe could well have a problem with his playmaker Vikash Dhorasoo who picked up a kick behind the knee in their 0-0 draw at Nancy on Friday night.

Standing by is Steed Malblanque, a highly rated young player who will make his full Lyon debut if he starts against Rovers.

Basically, Lyon are expected to employ a similar system to the one they adopted at Ewood, 4-3-1-2, with Dhorasoo or Malblanque in the 'hole.'

They could however also make the odd change with David Linares expected to replace Christian Bassila on the left hand side of midfield.

Lyon''s likely team is: Coupet, Carteron, Laville, Fournier, Delmotte, Bak, Violeau, Linares, Dhorasoo, or Malblanque, Grassi, Caveglia.

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