Rovers avoid Cup curtain-raiser

Blackburn have received a bye into the second round of the Football League Cup - now renamed the Capital One Cup.

The competition will provide the curtain raiser to the new domestic season as the first round matches will be played in the week commencing August 13, ahead of the 2012/13 Championship campaign starting on August 18.
But Rovers and Bolton Wanderers have been handed a bye into round two which will be played in the week commencing August 27, along with 13 Premier League teams.
The seven top flight teams involved in European competition - Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle United and holders Liverpool - will join in at the third round, week commencing September 24.
Rovers boss Steve Kean targeted the competition at the start of last season but then fielded a weakened side that was beaten 2-0 by eventual finalists Cardiff at the quarter-final stage.