Strong Blackburn side out to bounce back at Mansfield tonight

New Blackburn Rovers boss Owen Coyle will send out a strong team at Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup first round clash tonight, despite early injury problems.
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After their opening 4-1 home spanking by Norwich in the Championship on Saturday, Coyle knows it is important to bounce back at the One Call Stadium tonight.

“It is a tough cup tie but one that we are looking forward to,” Coyle told Rovers’s web site.

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“After Saturday we’d have loved to have played on Sunday because that hurt can make it a long weekend.

Click HERE to read Stags boss Adam Murray’s thought on the tie

“So it is nice that the cup comes round quickly, and it gives us that opportunity to go and try to win a tough cup tie and have a run in the cup competitions to then get going in the league to help you pick up the points.”

Coyle may give Craig Conway and Stephen Hendrie their first starts of the season, both being unused substitutes on Saturday.

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Rovers will be without Elliott Ward who injured his ankle early in the match at Ewood Park, and Elliott Bennett, who has a tight hamstring, while Corry Evans also remains absent with a groin strain.

But despite those absentees the manager insisted it will be a strong squad at Mansfield.

“I think it is fair to say that there will be one or two that we will bring in tomorrow that need to catch up with their match fitness and match sharpness,” he said.

“But within that, because of the numbers that we have, there won’t be too many changes in terms of strength from what I believe will be a strong team.”