Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has backed his side to spring a surprise when they play Chelsea on Saturday.

Rovers travel to London still on a high after last weekend's 3-2 Lancashire derby success against bitter rivals Burnley, a win that saw the Ewood Park outfit climb to 13^th in the league table.

However, Rovers have still to gain a single point away from home this season and will face a second-placed Chelsea side that has won four out of four at home so far.

Blackburn's task has not been made any easier by news that they will be without Italian forward Franco Di Santo, who is ineligible to face his parent club, and the suspended Vince Grella. Full-back Pascal Chimbonda is also a doubt because of injury.

Nevertheless, Allardyce is confident that a shock result could yet be possible.

"We haven't picked up a point away from home all season and Chelsea have only conceded once at home in the Premier League all season on the opening day of the season. If that doesn't sound like a daunting task, I don't know what does," the former Bolton Wanderers manager declared.

"But in any given game of football you can catch a team at the right time.

"Maybe not on their top form, maybe a little fatigued from their European efforts in midweek, maybe a few knocks. You can try to take advantage of that if your team plays their best."