Kean: League is our priority

Under-pressure Blackburn manager Steve Kean admitted he had "forfeited" their Carling Cup quarter-final against Cardiff in an effort to ensure his side are in the best shape for a series of crucial Barclays Premier League matches.

Kean's side are bottom of the league table and he made five changes for the 2-0 loss in south Wales and also elected not to risk the defensive trio of Christopher Samba, Martin Olsson and Michel Salgado, who have all had hamstring injuries.

The Scot said: "Before the game I had a decision to make in as far as I wanted to push Samba, Olsson and Salgado, who never travelled for this game. They could have played at a push and if we had been in a slightly different position in the league."

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