Blackburn Rovers 5 - 2 Peterborough United

Third Rover gets swine flu

Updated: October 26, 2009, 3:46 PM UK

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed that a third member of his squad has come down with swine flu ahead of their fourth round Carling Cup tie against Peterborough.

Allardyce confirmed that the virus had broken out within the camp prior to the weekend's Barclays Premier League match against Chelsea, but refused to name the individuals.

Asked whether Chris Samba and David Dunn were two of the sufferers, Allardyce said: "It's definitely swine flu - you've speculated on the names and I'll leave it at that.

"We have had one more case this morning, one more player and there are a couple of staff.

"Other than that, the others that we left behind are recovering well but not available for Tuesday night.''

Allardyce said Blackburn had only decided to play the fixture at Stamford Bridge - which they lost 5-0 - because they were bound to do so by Premier League rules, and admitted there was a chance the virus could have been passed on.

"The Premier League has tried to sit on the fence by saying that we didn't request to have the game called off,'' Allardyce said.

"We knew we couldn't get the game called off because we were told way back in February or March when we took some guidelines that unless there was some government legislation, everybody had to do whatever they had to do.

"If there was a swine flu outbreak, you couldn't call a game off, no matter what.

"We fulfilled our total, 100 per cent, responsibility by confirming two cases of swine flu and suggesting that it looks like one or two other players and members of staff had similar symptoms, and we made the same phone call to Chelsea.''

Asked about the danger of it spreading on a match day, Allardyce said: "It's a highly contagious strain as everybody knows but I can't comment any further than that.''

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson could be without Craig Mackail-Smith and Gabriel Zakuani for the trip.

Striker Mackail-Smith scored his first goal in four games against Scunthorpe at the weekend but came off late on and is rated as a doubt while Zakuani is struggling with a hamstring problem.

On-loan Birmingham defender Krystian Pearce could come into the side but both of Ferguson's new signings will have to wait to make their debuts.

Ryan Bennett and Scott Griffiths were left on the bench on Saturday and are ineligible after featuring in the competition for Grimsby and Dagenham respectively.

Tottenham midfielder Danny Rose is also cup-tied while Paul Coutts (foot) and Tom Williams (ankle) remain sidelined.

Ferguson insists the swine flu outbreak at Blackburn has not hindered his side's preparations for the tie.

He said: "It is certainly an unusual build-up to a game but it hasn't affected our preparations at all, we are preparing in the usual way.

"I'm sure it may disrupt them but we were only made aware of it this morning.

"I believe Chris Samba and David Dunn didn't travel on Saturday and maybe two or three others have symptoms but I'm sure the game will go ahead.

"I don't know what team they will play anyway. They lost 5-0 at the weekend and play Manchester United on Saturday so there is every chance that they will make changes regardless.

"We'll have to wait and see but we go there with the belief that we can get a result.''