BLACKBURN Rovers face the problem of playing two games in a little over 48 hours again, following Preston North End's stubborn attitude over the Coca-Cola Cup tie between the clubs at Deepdale.

And it has certainly not enhanced relations between the Lancashire neighbours.

The dates for the two-legged second round tie were announced today, with the Ewood game being staged on Wednesday, September 17, with an 8pm kick-off time.

But, even though Rovers are playing Coventry on Sunday, September 28, Preston have refused Rovers boss Roy Hodgson's request to play the Deepdale leg on Wednesday, October 1.

The Second Division club have insisted it goes ahead on Tuesday, September 30 (7-45pm), leaving Rovers with little time to recover from the Premiership encounter with Coventry.

"I think the league should decide these things," said the Rovers boss today. "But as it seems to be up to the clubs we will have to get on with it. They realise no team wants to play two games so quickly after each other and they have taken a little advantage. I suppose you could say it's not very neighbourly."

Hodgson's concern will be over injuries, having experienced this kind of situation before and knowing that playing games in such a short space of time does not allow players adequate time to recover.

Rovers have already been in a similar position when they had to play Liverpool on a Saturday and Sheffield Wednesday the following Monday. And the manager was left in no doubt that the lack of recovery time was a major contributing factor to injury problems.

Both Billy McKinlay and Jason Wilcox collected injuries against Wednesday which forced them to miss the Crystal Palace match and other players also suffered problems.

"As Premier League clubs we are committed to Sky TV. They have put a lot of money in and we have committed ourselves to play on Monday nights," he said.

"Sometimes you bite the sour apple, sometimes somebody else does.

"But when there's a competition such as the Coca-Cola Cup clubs should not be obliged to play on a Tuesday if they have a game on the Sunday.

"There's no doubt if you play two games in two days, players don't recover."

While Rovers do not have a League game until Sunday week, when they entertain Leeds, the manager is continuing his search for a new keeper.

Specualtion continues about Southampton's Maik Taylor but Hodgson said: "Speculation never interests me."

And, having let Dave Beasant go to Nottingham Forest on loan, Taylor is Southampton's only experienced back-up to Paul Jones, signed in summer.

Many Saints fans feel that he should be the number one choice after helping them survive in the Premiership last season.

Hodgson also revealed that Italian Luca Bucci - another keeper he has been linked with in the national Press - had been on offer to English clubs for some months.

That would seem to discount the Parma player.

All Lancashire Football League games scheduled for Saturday have been postponed as a mark of respect to Diana, Princess of Wales.

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