BLACKBURN Rovers beating Chelsea at their own game - playing attacking free-flowing football ... who would have thought that?

Rovers, unquestionably, turned in their finest, most confident performance of the season to put Carlo Ancelotti's men in their place and book a Carling Cup semi-final spot against Aston Villa.

Okay, Chelsea were weakened without the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard.

But who is to say Blackburn - on that form - wouldn't have edged past Anceletti's best XI?

Paul Robinson was granted hero status for his penalty saves and Nikola Kalinic can look confidenty towards a bright Rovers future after scoring twice.

For me, though, the old guard of Brett Emerton and Benni McCarthy stole the show at Ewood.

Emerton was tireless. His distribution of the ball surpassed that of pass-master Michael Ballack, while every one of his crosses carried real menace into the Chelsea penalty box.

McCarthy, who has always enjoyed the big occassion, rolled back the years with a masterful display behind the front strikers.

His movement was second to none and his intricate link-up play proved so effective on a high-tempo night for Rovers.

The South African's days at Ewood look numbered with opportunities under Sam Allardyce few and far between.

But there is little doubt that, when he's in the mood, McCarthy remains a class act and a huge asset to Rovers.

With doubts over whether Blackburn can extend Franco Di Santo's loan in January, is there still time for Allardyce to re-assess McCarthy's future at Rovers?