Chelsea vs Blackburn LIVE! Carabao Cup result, match stream and latest updates today

Chelsea vs Blackburn LIVE!

Benoit Badiashile scored the opening goal as he made his first appearance of the season in Chelsea's 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.

The France defender had not started a Blues match since he was injured in their draw with Nottingham Forest in May and got himself involved at both ends of the pitch in a game that also saw Reece James return to the starting XI.

Raheem Sterling fired home after the break, and while the visitors had defended well, they never looked close to coming back into the contest.

Chelsea have now reached their 24th quarter-final in 33 attempts, and are one step closer to lifting a first League Cup since 2015, when Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino was in charge of runners-up Tottenham.

Chelsea vs Blackburn highlights

• GOAL! Badiashile scores on return to Chelsea team

• GOAL! Sterling punishes error to double lead

Newcastle up next for Chelsea!

23:11 , Marc Mayo

The quarter-final draw has taken place and Newcastle will visit Chelsea in the next round.

Thanks for joining us this evening and we'll see you next time!

Check out the draw in full

Mauricio Pochettino spells out trophy ambition

22:55 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea must "think about winning" the Carabao Cup as Manchester United and Arsenal crash out of the competition.

Asked whether Chelsea should start thinking about winning the Carabao Cup, Pochettino said: "I think so. We need to think that it is an important competition for us.

"We are not in Europe. That should be an opportunity for us just like the Premier League is and like the FA Cup when we start in January.

"Of course, we need to think that we can win this competition."

Read the full story!

Three factors to Chelsea's win

22:26 , Marc Mayo

Nizaar delivers his verdict from Stamford Bridge as Mauricio Pochettino goes all-in on cup silverware to liven up an ailing season.

Read the full story!

Time for the Carabao Cup draw!

22:05 , Marc Mayo

We have a live blog dedicated to the quarter-final draw rolling ahead of Chelsea discovering their opponents.

Follow the draw live here!

Player ratings

22:00 , Marc Mayo

Big scores from Nizaar for Enzo Fernandez and Raheem Sterling but it, once again, wasn't Nicolas Jackson's night.

Read the full story!

Match report

21:46 , Marc Mayo

Benoit Badiashile and Raheem Sterling deliver the goals as Chelsea get the better of Championship Blackburn at the Bridge.

Recap the action with our report!

Chelsea march on

21:45 , Marc Mayo

And the draw is tonight!

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | FULL TIME!

21:39 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea are into the quarter-finals!

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 90+3 mins

21:38 , Marc Mayo

SHOULD BE 2-1!

Axel Disasi allows Arnor Sigurdsson in and Robert Sanchez saves after the Blackburn man hesitated over his chance.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 90+2 mins

21:37 , Marc Mayo

Malo Gusto goes close with a spectacular hit from the edge of the box!

Nearly the icing on top of the cake.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 90 mins

21:35 , Marc Mayo

Four added minutes.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 89 mins

21:33 , Marc Mayo

Can't blame Blackburn's James Hill for swinging a foot at a bouncing ball outside the box, but he is a centre-back after all and shows as much with a very loose shot that spins into the stands.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 87 mins

21:31 , Marc Mayo

Cole Palmer a bit annoyed with himself as an attack falls down at his feet. That's probably because he's coming off having not been able to convert a good outing into a goal.

Noni Madueke replaces him and Alex Matos is on for Enzo Fernandez.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 85 mins

21:29 , Marc Mayo

Raheem Sterling has been on fire tonight.

Another run at his defender leads to a rocket of a shot across the face of goal, and wide.

You know, there's an England squad to be decided in the coming weeks...

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 83 mins

21:28 , Marc Mayo

Arnor Sigurdsson booked for a late challenge. We're drifting towards a quiet finish at the Bridge.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 80 mins

21:25 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea still on the front foot despite that fairly defensive change.

They're more than happy with possession in the centre of the park though.

Elsewhere, it's full time in the early kick-off and West Ham have knocked out Arsenal, 3-1!

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 75 mins

21:20 , Marc Mayo

Conor Gallagher the next to try and grab a third for Chelsea. His shot flashes across the face of goal and Mauricio Pochettino is settling in for the night.

Moises Caicedo on for Nicolas Jackson, which sees Cole Palmer shift into the middle, just ahead of Enzo Fernandez.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 74 mins

21:18 , Marc Mayo

Here comes the cavalry...

Arnor Sigurdsson and Niall Ennis thrown on as Blackburn shake up their attack, Andy Moran and Harry Leonard off.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 72 mins

21:17 , Marc Mayo

Fresh push from Blackburn, whose packed away end has been in fine voice all half.

First a Jake Garrett tumble wins a corner, not a penalty, and another futile cry from the Rovers fans goes ignored after a cross goes unmet by a flinging body.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 70 mins

21:15 , Marc Mayo

Sensational work by Raheem Sterling to dribble all the way into the centre of the Blackburn box and his poke goalwards is saved sharply!

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 69 mins

21:13 , Marc Mayo

POST!

Cole Palmer lines up a shot from range, it pings off a Blackburn leg and off the outside of the woodwork.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 67 mins

21:12 , Marc Mayo

CHANCE!

Raheem Sterling gets the better of Harry Pickering on the Chelsea right flank and he rolls in Nicolas Jackson...

That's a poor finish. Chipped over the bar from not far out. Not been his night.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 64 mins

21:08 , Marc Mayo

Chance now for Chelsea to continue to make Carabao Cup their oasis in a difficult season.

A third or fourth would level and then beat their biggest win under Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | 62 mins

21:06 , Marc Mayo

Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto on for Benoit Badiashile and Reece James after that goal, resting both men on their return from injury.

Dilon Markanday and Hayden Carter off for Rovers, Tyrhys Dolan and Scott Wharton introduced.

GGGOOOAAALLL!!! Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn | Sterling, 59'

21:03 , Marc Mayo

CLINICAL FINISH!

Blackburn deal with the corner then give it away by playing out from the back!

Callum Brittain guilty on this occasion and Raheem Sterling is fed to curl the ball home.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 59 mins

21:03 , Marc Mayo

SAVE!

Cole Palmer happy to go on his right foot in the box and a shot towards the roof of the net is well tipped over.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 58 mins

21:02 , Marc Mayo

Jake Garrett finds himself in a decent position outside the box but has his first pass blocked before a second opportunity, dinked cutely into the box, escapes its target.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 56 mins

21:00 , Marc Mayo

All a bit 'second gear' at Stamford Bridge now with the Blues knocking the ball around with ease and Blackburn eager not to overcommit and concede a second goal.

Meanwhile, former Chelsea academy star Lewis Hall has notched his first senior goal... for Newcastle.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 54 mins

20:58 , Marc Mayo

Quick ball into Nicolas Jackson from Enzo Fernandez puts the striker on the 18-yard line, he just overhits his control while trying to spin his man and settles for the corner.

Decent ball swung in by Cole Palmer... but too high for Axel Disasi. Goal kick.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 51 mins

20:55 , Marc Mayo

Enzo Fernandez rolled the ball on his left foot in the D and he looks visibly uncomfortable shaping to shoot on his weaker side... unsurprisingly the clipped shot floats wide.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 49 mins

20:53 , Marc Mayo

Rovers force another dangerous moment after lax play in his own box by Robert Sanchez.

Just as with the first half, any time Chelsea have asserted themselves there has been a nagging reaction from Blackburn to keep this contest alive.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 46 mins

20:51 , Marc Mayo

CHANCE!

Just as with the first half, Chelsea fire off a shot after 15 seconds as Reece James fires wide.

Blackburn are on the attack moments later though as Harry Leonard spins in behind from a straight ball over the top...

But he tamely shoots wide!

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | Kick-off!

20:49 , Marc Mayo

The second half begins in this Carabao Cup fourth-round tie!

No changes for either side.

Reminder: No extra-time if we do end up level after the next 45 minutes.

Second half coming up!

20:47

About to get back underway at Stamford Bridge.

And an update to that Carabao Cup update - West Ham now 3-0 up over Arsenal and Newcastle leading at Manchester United...

Elsewhere in the Carabao Cup

20:45

Early leads for Fulham, Liverpool and Everton in the 7.45pm games.

West Ham a goal up over Arsenal at the top of the bill with Manchester United and Newcastle goalless.

Not bad from Blackburn

20:41

There's been some good interplay around the final third from the Championship team.

Not much in the way of action for Chelsea's goalkeeper, mind.

Perhaps not a surprise given this is largely a second-string attack for Rovers.

At a goal down, they're still very much in this game.

Very solid half from Chelsea

20:37 , Marc Mayo

The performance and the scoreline are in the Blues' favour.

They now need to go and get an early goal in the second half to make this a comfortable, confidence-boosting night.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | Half time!

20:33 , Marc Mayo

The Blues ahead at the break courtesy of Benoit Badiashile!

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 45+2 mins

20:33 , Marc Mayo

Late corner for Chelsea, their sixth of the game, to end the half.

Tim Robinson wants a word with Lewis Travis and Nicolas Jackson first though, the Blackburn man accusing his opponent on an elbow in the pre-kick tussling.

Finally the ball comes in from Conor Gallagher... easily punched away.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 45 mins

20:30 , Marc Mayo

Two minutes of stoppage time announced as Cole Palmer finds Nicolas Jackson in the box... awful touch. Ball cleared.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 43 mins

20:29 , Marc Mayo

Sweeping move up the pitch from the away team sees a cross cushioned down to Andy Moran, who cuts across his shot too much and it spins wide.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 42 mins

20:28 , Marc Mayo

Marc Cucurella pops up in space on the left flank but cuts his cross a little too far back, and Blackburn come away with it.

Decent finish to the half from Rovers just when it looked like Chelsea were capable of putting them to the sword.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 40 mins

20:25 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn come back on the attack and win a corner via Jake Garrett on the left.

Elsewhere, Liverpool join Fulham, Everton and West Ham in leading their games tonight. Cody Gakpo with the opener at Bournemouth.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 38 mins

20:23 , Marc Mayo

Just seen the replay. Blackburn definitely had a case, not stonewall though.

One of those handballs.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

20:22 , Marc Mayo

Ball struck Conor Gallagher's hand in the box. Possibly ball to hand, not much gap between him and Dilon Markanday, who crossed, but you've seen those given.

This game could be very different with VAR.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 37 mins

20:22 , Marc Mayo

Huge shout from the away fans, calling for a handball off Conor Gallagher in the Chelsea area.

They were about 100 yards away so maybe they're not the most trustworthy adjudicators!

Hard to tell on initial viewing where that deflected off the midfielder.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 35 mins

20:20 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn have to be careful here, their good work is not totally undone yet but 2-0 before half time will mean this tie is as good as finished.

Too many loose, rushed passes since the goal.

Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | 33 mins

20:18 , Marc Mayo

Finally for Chelsea, they start well and actually back it up with the opening goal.

You sense the mood around Stamford Bridge is largely one of relief.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

20:17 , Marc Mayo

Benoit Badiashile hadn't played a football match since May but scores on his return to action. A heartwarming moment as he reunites with Axel Disasi, his former partner at Monaco.

GGOOOAAALLLL!!! Chelsea 1-0 Blackburn | Badiashile, 31'

20:15 , Marc Mayo

LOVELY FINISH FROM BENOIT BADIASHILE!

How's that for a return to the team?!

Conor Gallagher wins a corner down the right and Chelsea work it short, Blackburn unable to deal with the ball in and it lands to Badiashile.

A cute side-foot finish finds the bottom corner!

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 30 mins

20:14 , Marc Mayo

Great challenge in his own box by Enzo Fernandez before Cole Palmer wins a free-kick in his own half.

A decent watch, this. Blackburn have come here to play and doing a good job so far.

Chelsea have been on top though and Nicolas Jackson spins in the box... shot blocked.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 27 mins

20:11 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea are getting closer to the opening goal.

Solid tackles deny Conor Gallagher then Cole Palmer the chance to turn on the 18-yard line before Enzo Fernandez clips a shot in from similar range.

Leopold Wahlstedt will expect to save that every time, and parries well here.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 25 mins

20:10 , Marc Mayo

Reece James is looking lively tonight...

A good run onto this right foot 25 yards from goal sees him shoot towards the far-post, just wide!

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

20:08 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn Rovers got on top of Chelsea for a spell there. It would be a terrible look to get knocked out as an effectively full strength Blues team.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 23 mins

20:08 , Marc Mayo

Great work by Cole Palmer sees it dazzle two Rovers defenders and Harry Pickering is booked for hauling him back.

Free-kick only cleared for a corner...

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 22 mins

20:06 , Marc Mayo

Robert Sanchez palms a low cross up into the air after a well-worked short corner. This is Blackburn's best spell of the game for sure.

But a poor backpass allows Chelsea to win a throw up the field and defuse the tension.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 20 mins

20:05 , Marc Mayo

Lovely jink past Marc Cucurella by Dilon Markanday and Chelsea struggle to clear.

Chelsea have men back and are sat in deep and narrow.

But a slick pass into Callum Brittain almost puts him through on goal! Benoit Badiashile again there to clear for a corner.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 19 mins

20:04 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn have settled well into this game but look a little suspect in playing it around at the back.

Tactically sound but with a mistake in them, like a good Championship team.

Benoit Badiashile steps in well to stop a ball into the Chelsea box.

Some more goals in the six other games tonight, Fulham lead at Ipswich and Everton have the opener at home to Burnley.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 16 mins

20:01 , Marc Mayo

CHANCE!

Reece James sent in by a superb Enzo Fernandez lob and he drills a shot, saved by the midriff of Leopold Wahlstedt.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:59 , Marc Mayo

Fun stat: Levi Colwill is getting his first rest of the season. He started all Chelsea's other matches in the league and cup.

Robert Sanchez is now the only player to start every match.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 13 mins

19:58 , Marc Mayo

Short break for a head injury for young James Hill in the Blackburn defence.

He'll be okay to carry on.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:57 , Marc Mayo

Raheem Sterling is taken out by Lewis Travis in the box. It should be a penalty but isn't... Mauricio Pochettino is asking the question but there's no VAR tonight.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 10 mins

19:55 , Marc Mayo

Minor handball shouts from the home fans as Axel Disasi's header across goal is blocked by a Rovers arm.

Raheem Sterling then breaks down the left and wins a corner off a risky Lewis Travis challenge.

Nothing in the first and something in the second... remember, no VAR tonight.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 9 mins

19:53 , Marc Mayo

Another scramble in the Blackburn box as Reece James' cross comes to Enzo Fernandez and Raheem Sterling as they fall over each other.

Nicolas Jackson throws some feet in, to no avail, but Chelsea win the corner.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 7 mins

19:52 , Marc Mayo

First Rovers attack from Dilan Markanday.

A cheer from the home fans as the ex-Tottenham man fires wide with a drilled effort from range.

Elsewhere, West Ham have an early lead on Arsenal via a Ben White own goal.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 5 mins

19:50 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn trying to make things happen with a high press on Chelsea, who have Enzo Fernandez and Lesley Ugochukwu stationed deep in midfield. A 4-2-3-1 from the hosts tonight.

Conor Gallagher is the No10 looking for relief balls to spark attacks.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:48 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn are here to play their expansive brand of football under Danish legend Jon Dahl Tomasson. They do look very nervy early on.

This is their first meeting with Chelsea for 11 years... Raul Meireles scored that day.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 3 mins

19:47 , Marc Mayo

Second Chelsea corner won by Raheem Sterling on the left wing.

Cleared at the near-post, though.

Chelsea 0-0 Blackburn | 1 min

19:46 , Marc Mayo

A corner for the hosts won by Nicolas Jackson in the first 15 seconds and Blackburn might a right meal of clearing it.

A flick on is met by a gaggle of defenders but a few miskicks lead to the goalkeeper hoofing it long!

Chelsea vs Blackburn | Kick-off!

19:45 , Marc Mayo

Our referee tonight, Tim Robinson, blows his whistle and Chelsea get the ball rolling!

Chelsea vs Blackburn | Carabao Cup history

19:44 , Marc Mayo

One-time winners Blackburn have not reached the quarter-finals since 2012, which was their last season in the Premier League.

Chelsea have won this trophy five times but failed to progress to the last eight in three of the last four campaigns.

Here come the teams!

19:42 , Marc Mayo

Stamford Bridge, not quite full yet, rises to its feet for the two sets of players heading out the tunnel.

The away allocation of 3,000 Rovers fans also not quite full, but a very solid backing on the road from the Lancastrians nonetheless.

The lights show has begun!

19:40 , Marc Mayo

Blur's 'Parklife' is blaring out in time to the floodlights beaming on and off at the Bridge.

Teams out soon.

Applause for Chelsea youngsters

19:39 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea's Under-16 Premier League National champions are brought out before the game to receive the fans after beating Fulham 4-0 in their final last month.

Chelsea vs Blackburn | Countdown to kick-off

19:35 , Marc Mayo

The warm-ups are wrapping up, ten minutes until we get this fourth-round tie going at the Bridge!

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:33 , Marc Mayo

Wonderful to see Benoit Badiashile back after many months out and re-ignite his partnership with Axel Disasi from Monaco. Reece James also makes his first start since August.

Chelsea have more than enough to beat Blackburn Rovers. A win is a must today amid poor league form. A very difficult run is coming up starting with matches against Tottenham and Manchester City.

Leo Castledine makes Chelsea's bench for the first time. He's a technically gifted, versatile attacker. His dad played for Wimbledon and his mum used to present Homes Under the Hammer.

Five issues for Mauricio Pochettino to solve

19:29 , Marc Mayo

Ahead of kick-off, why not check out Nizaar's five-point plan for Chelsea to revive their season.

Goals, injuries, defending... just the minor stuff.

Read the full story!

When is the quarter-final draw?

19:25 , Marc Mayo

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup takes place tonight, Wednesday November 1, 2023.

Proceedings should start at around 10:15pm GMT, after the conclusion of Manchester United vs Newcastle at Old Trafford.

The winner of Chelsea vs Blackburn will be ball number five.

Team news reaction

19:19 , Marc Mayo

Nizaar Kinsella is in position to talk you through tonight's team news.

Chelsea vs Blackburn | Countdown to kick-off

19:15 , Marc Mayo

Time to warm up in west London! Kick-off is half an hour away.

Get to know Leo Castledine

19:12

Chelsea have named 18-year-old midfielder Leo Castledine on the bench tonight.

The Kingston-born academy player has joined the first-team in training over recent weeks and has clearly impressed Mauricio Pochettino.

Castledine spent a large part of his youth career at AFC Wimbledon with this his second stint at Chelsea. He has six assists and two goals for the Under-21s this campaign and is capped at three levels for England's youth team.

Plus, his mum, Lucy Alexander, used to present Homes Under The Hammer!

No debut for Djordje Petrovic (yet)

19:10 , Marc Mayo

We were expecting to see Djordje Petrovic make his Chelsea debut tonight, but he's on the bench.

Ahead of the game, Nizaar caught up with former Blackburn and USA goalkeeper Brad Friedel to discuss his compatriot's move to the Premier League.

“I wasn’t surprised he joined Chelsea at all,” Friedel told Standard Sport. “I told a couple of other Premier League clubs they should come in for him.

“He has been by far and away the best-performing goalkeeper in the MLS for the last few seasons. His positioning is good, his reflexes are good, his balance is good, his quickness is good."

Read the full story!

All eyes on Nicolas Jackson

19:04 , Marc Mayo

After calling out a fan's criticism of his young star on the weekend, Mauricio Pochettino still believes in Nicolas Jackson despite admitting that the Chelsea striker is feeling "fragile" and needs support.

The 21-year-old struggled during the 2-0 home defeat by Brentford and has just three goals in his first 11 matches for the club.

Asked why he felt the need to respond to the fan, with far worse comments made inside football stadiums, Pochettino said: "Of course it is not the worst thing that has happened in football but we need to see also because we are very sensitive and in this situation where a player is suffering.

"For different reasons he is suffering, he has suffered an injury. After this it is difficult to train and then to score goals.

"Nico needs support. I understand the fans, they are entitled to say what they want but it was a really quiet moment and it was out of context."

Read the full story!

Six changes from Blackburn

18:58 , Marc Mayo

Sam Szmodics is rested for the away team with Arnor Sigurdsson another key player taken out of the line-up for this one.

Former Tottenham youngster Dilan Markanday is tasked with being the chief creative force in attack.

Strong team named by Chelsea

18:52 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino has gone big on tonight's cup tie.

Even a debut for goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has been binned, in favour of first-choice Robert Sanchez keeping the gloves.

Enzo Fernandez and Reece James return to the XI along with Benoit Badiashile.

Four changes in total with Lesley Ugochukwu also getting the nod in midfield.

The away team tonight

18:49 , Marc Mayo

Blackburn XI: Wahlstedt; Brittain, Carter, Hill, Pickering; A. Wharton, Travis, Garrett; Markanday, Moran, Leonard

Subs: Hilton, S. Wharton, Gamble, Batty, Rankin-Costello, Tronstad, Sigurdsson, Dolan, Ennis

Chelsea's team is out!

18:46 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Badiashile, Disasi, Cucurella; Ugochukwu, Gallagher, Fernandez; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling

Subs: Petrovic, Colwill, Gusto, Maatsen, Caicedo, Madueke, Matos, Castledine, Washington

Team news up next!

18:43 , Marc Mayo

We're expecting a near full-strength Chelsea team in tonight's match!

Rallying cry from Chelsea boss

18:40 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea need to enter survival mode to turn their results around as they gear up for a daunting run that could define their season.

“For sure this is a tough moment,” said Pochettino. “But we are not giving up. You have to resist things that go against you and try to survive.

“You have to be quiet and be strong… and not lose your balance, because it is easy to blame or say something that is going to affect other people and lead to division in the club.

“The important thing is to trust the ideas, the judgment and analysis of why certain things have not happened. To help the organisation to be better and to improve and not to make the same mistakes again. The most important thing is to learn from the mistakes.”

Read the full story!

Chelsea fans forced to change Israel banner

18:36 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea will have a new banner for their Israeli supporters’ club in place for this evening’s Carabao Cup match against Blackburn.

The fans’ club was told it could no longer display the Star of David inside Stamford Bridge and its original banner, which had been up for eight years, was removed.

That happened after the Premier League issued clubs with guidance not to allow Israel and Palestine flags into grounds amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Chelsea said they had followed Premier League guidance. But the Premier League insist that any decision was left to Chelsea.

The Chelsea Israeli supporters’ club branded the move “anti-Semitic”.

Read the full story!

Blackburn check in

18:30 , Marc Mayo

The Rovers squad are at Stamford Bridge ahead of their line-up being named.

Teen star spotted at Stamford Bridge

18:25 , Marc Mayo

Attacking midfielder Leo Castledine, 18, is with the first-team tonight.

Mauricio Pochettino previews Chelsea team news

18:20 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino will give Reece James his first start since August against Blackburn tonight in a bid to play his "best team."

The club captain will make his welcome return in the Carabao Cup match, as the Blues look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at home to Brentford on Saturday.

"I can confirm he is going to start," the Chelsea boss said of James.

"The captain is ready. It’s good for the team, it’s good for him to start from the beginning. We can see after, checking always how he is performing."

Read the full story!

Chelsea vs Blackburn | Countdown to kick-off

18:14 , Marc Mayo

We have exactly 90 minutes until this fourth-round tie gets underway.

Team news should come anytime from now over the next half hour really, an early release for a cup game would not be a surprise.

Big night in the Carabao Cup

18:08 , Marc Mayo

They've really piled in all on tonight, haven't they?!

Chelsea vs Blackburn latest odds

18:02

Chelsea to qualify: 1/20

Blackburn to qualify: 8/1

Draw (90 mins): 7/1

Odds via Betfair and subject to change.

Throwback: Rovers down Blues in 1998

17:55 , Marc Mayo

These two teams finished fourth and sixth in the top flight that year... how times change!

Head-to-head record

17:48 , Marc Mayo

This may be these teams' first meeting in 11 years but Rovers have not avoided defeat at Stamford Bridge since 2007 with their last win at this ground coming courtesy of late David Dunn and Dwight Yorke goals four years earlier.

Chelsea wins: 49

Blackburn wins: 36

Draws: 27

Chelsea vs Blackburn prediction

17:43

The Blues, even with rotation in mind, surely have enough to get past Blackburn, with all due respect.

Chelsea to win 3-1.

How we see the Rovers lining up

17:35

Predicted Blackburn XI: Wahlstedt; Brittain, Carter, S. Wharton, Pickering; A. Wharton, Travis, Garrett; Markanday, Moran, Leonard

Click here to read the full blog on The Evening Standard's website