ROY Hodgson's UEFA Cup hopes received a dramatic double boost at Stamford Bridge last night.

Chelsea's managing director Colin Hutchinson revealed that if the London club win the European Cup Winners' Cup in a fortnight's time, they will defend the trophy next season.

So victory for Chelsea over Stuttgart in Stockholm would mean UEFA qualification going down as far as seventh in the table.

So the 1-0 victory over Chelsea, who had won six successive home games, has put Blackburn Rovers firmly back on course for Europe.

That gives Rovers a possible extra lifeline as one more win from the last two games - 58 points in all - would guarantee a top-seven place.

But it is still the top six they need to aim for and that is now on the cards again after an end to their barren run.

After last night's results, Coventry are out of the equation as far as Rovers are concerned.

Pressure is also on West Ham now to win their game in hand, with Rovers for the moment just shading goal difference.

Results are paramount at this stage of the season but Hodgson will also feel happier about the performance last night as Rovers looked more like their old selves.

Having seen what can happen, however, the manager will not get carried away. Asked what the win did for their European ambitions, he responded: "It keeps them alive."

And with a hint of sarcasm he added: "We have done our best to kill them off. Looking at the programme, I see we were second in the League with 41 points from 21 games on the first of January so we really have worked hard to come out of the top six. "Luckily our first half of the season was so good we couldn't get ourselves out of the top six. We've only been out once and that was when we went seventh on goal difference.

"So I suppose when you are in sixth place and there are six teams will go to Europe it's up to others to get above us.

"We will have to lose that. We haven't actually had to get above anybody, except on that one occasion.

"The result does a lot of good but at the same time it's still close. There are good points totals still available. We have only 55 so we need more points.

"For long periods of the season we were really hoping for a Champions' League place. To go from not getting a Champions' League place to not even being in Europe would be a massive disappointment and I think it would be a rather sad situation considering the amount of work the players have put in."

Hodgson felt injuries and suspensions had handicapped the club but he also had praise for individuals such as John Filan who has made a terrific return.

"He's been good in the last two games and it's even more incredible considring he has been out since the end of August. "When you are out for that length of time, to come back and keep two clean sheets everyone has got to be satisfied." The result meant so much to Rovers last night and Hodgson added: "I think we have played better but, of course, results affect people's confidence and their form.

"I have seen us pass the ball better and attack better.

"But we have got to that stage of the season where you don't have the luxury of pretty play if you are likely to fall out of the top six.

Tim Sherwood limped out of last night's game with an ankle injury.

Rovers will play Tranmere in the final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup at Ewood on Monday, May 11.

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