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Allardyce: Villa test

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Blackburn and Aston Villa meet for the second time this month in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on Thursday.

The Ewood Park fixture follows Villa's 3-1 FA Cup third-round win over Rovers at Villa Park, with the sides due to meet for a third time in quick succession in next week's second leg.

The hosts have shipped 14 goals in their previous six matches and enter the fixture on the back of a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Monday, while Villa have won six of their last eight matches in all competitions.

However, Villa's last semi-final appearance in 2004 saw Sam Allardyce's Bolton topple them, and the Rovers boss will surely be buoyed by that experience.

Allardyce has a number of injury worries ahead of the game, but striker Jason Roberts is the only confirmed casualty as he misses out through a knee injury.

Fellow striker Benni McCarthy is a doubt through a back problem, while defender Gael Givet is also a worry with a head injury.

Vincent Grella remains unavailable with a thigh injury while livewire forward El-Hadji Diouf is suspended after his red card in the FA Cup meeting earlier in the month.

Villa team news

Wilfred Bouma (toe) and Curtis Davies (shoulder) are Villa boss Martin O'Neill's only injury victims as he looks for a positive result to take into the second leg.

Togo international Moustapha Salifou is on leave after the tragic events in Angola but otherwise, O'Neill has a full squad at his disposal.

That could prompt the Irishman to field a strong side as Villa seek a trophy to accompany their impressive form this season.

Stiliyan Petrov, Richard Dunne and Gabriel Agbonlahor are all expected to return to the side after being rested for the FA Cup meeting.

James Milner has recovered from a foot injury and the in-form midfielder should continue in his recent central role in which he has impressed.