PAUL Robinson was the penalty hero against Chelsea as Blackburn Rovers earned a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals in dramatic style tonight.

Robinson saved from Gael Kakuta as Rovers won 4-3 on spotkicks. The sides had earlier drawn 3-3.

The win earns Rovers a two-legged tie against Aston Villa, the first leg at Ewood Park. Manchester United will face neighbours Manchester City in the other semi-final.

Rovers raced into the lead on nine minutes when Kalinic turned in Pascal Chimbonda's cut-back after good work from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

It was the Croatian's second of the season, and little more than his first-half display deserved.

Chelsea's only real chance came from Kalou's head, but it flew just wide of the post.

Carlo Ancelotti could hardly have been impressed with Chelsea’s first-half efforts and he made three substitutions for the second period.

Not surprisingly, on came Didier Drogba as well as Kakuta and Jeffery Bruma, with Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti and Deco making way.

And Chelsea were level within two minutes of the restart. Malouda’s cross came in from the left and Drogba rose above Ryan Nelsen to head powerfully past Robinson.

It did not take Chelsea long to go in front, with Blackburn punished for some dreadful defending.

Yury Zhirkov found all the time in the world to send Kalou racing into Blackburn’s half, without a defender within 20 yards of him, and the striker coolly rolled his shot wide of Robinson after 52 minutes.

A nasty clash of heads saw Steven Nzonzi taken off with blood gushing from a wound, returning several minutes later with a heavily-bandaged head.

Rovers sent on Vince Grella for Pedersen after 61 minutes and were level three minutes later. Emerton’s swirling cross came in from the right and, although Kalinic went for it and claimed the goal, the ball looked to sail straight in and past a bemused Hilario.

Benni McCarthy had the ball in the net in injury-time but was ruled offside, and the game went into extra-time.

McCarthy put Rovers ahead in extra time from the penalty spot after Hoillet was fouled, but it was 3-3 in the dying seconds when Ferreira scored after a Paul Robinson error.

That brought the game to penalties, with Rovers going through.