MARK Hughes insists Blackburn Rovers' Carling Cup dreams are far from over - even though his players failed to make maximum use of home advantage against Manchester United last night.

Sir Alex Ferguson's Reds are now the bookies' favourites to go through to the final after last night's semi-final first leg finished in a 1-1 stalemate at Ewood Park.

But Hughes is adamant the tie is still delicately poised and he firmly believes Rovers can approach the second leg at Old Trafford with confidence in a fortnight's time.

"We've got no reason to go there thinking the tie is over and done with," said the bullish Blackburn boss.

"We've been there once and won (this season) and we'll have to do it again.

"It's a hard task that we face but I see no reason why we can't go there and get a positive result."

United struck first last night, grabbing what could turn out to be a crucial away goal when Louis Saha finished off a swift counterattack in the 30th minute.

But that lead lasted just six minutes before Morten Gamst Pedersen scored a fine equaliser, which gives Rovers hope for the second leg.

"I thought it was a good cup tie," reflected Hughes.

"It was an excellent game, certainly in the first half when there was a lot of good play from both sides.

"It was two really committed teams who wanted to win the first leg.

"We had a couple of chances early on that we would have liked to have gone in for us, but it wasn't to be.

"We then went behind and I was delighted with the response. It was a fantastic strike from Morten.

"In the second half, I felt we allowed ourselves to get pegged back somewhat and that caused us to drop a little bit too deep, which meant we found it difficult to build our own attacks.

"But that's credit to their ability and the quality of their forwards, who were able to push us back.

"I don't think there was that many clear-cut chances for United, though, to be fair, so, overall, we are reasonably happy.

"Obviously, we would have preferred to have won our home tie but we are still very much in it."

Hughes felt the outcome of last night's first leg might have been different had the referee Rob Styles shown Alan Smith a red card, rather than a yellow one, for what appeared to be a vicious lunge on Robbie Savage in the 37th minute.

"Maybe another referee would have interpreted it differently," added Hughes.

"But I was more upset that he deemed it necessary to book Robbie Savage as well when he was prostrate on the deck.

"It's difficult, though, when there's lots of bodies around to understand what has really gone on so it's nothing something we want to dwell too much on."