The Chelsea coaching staff are asking the players to respond to defeat in Rome in the same manner as the bounce-back from the Liverpool loss - and the initial signs are good.

The Blues followed up the first defeat under Felipe Scolari's management with a combined eight goals scored against Hull and Sunderland and none conceded.

Now the challenge is a good result away against a Blackburn side who have scored three league goals and won one league game at home.

'The boys had a day off on Wednesday, came in yesterday and the mood has been similar to the one when we got beaten by Liverpool,' observes assistant first team coach Ray Wilkins.

'The mood is one of determination to get back on the winning track again - but we know it is going to be very difficult at Blackburn.

'As far as the ambience goes though, it has been spot on and we are ready.'

Wilkins explains a balance has been struck between discussing the shortcomings in Italy and the need to clear minds ready for the resumption of Barclays Premier League action.

'We spoke about what went wrong in Rome, and the lads know what went wrong. It has got to be forgotten, as the Liverpool game was. Someone will beat every team every now and then and it is how you react to it.

'Joe Cole missed training yesterday but hopefully we will get him back in, we don't know how that is going to go,' Wilkins reports on the squad for Sunday. 'Michael Ballack is doing well. Hopefully he'll be back in the fold shortly.'

Blackburn have an injury question mark over their striker Roque Santa Cruz who missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Fellow forward Benni McCarthy is suspended.

'We know how Blackburn have been playing but they have a couple of injuries, as every team has at the moment, and it will be difficult to know how they are going to play on Sunday.

'They have some good footballers, we don't know if Santa Cruz is going to be fit and we don't know if they will play two up front, so we just have to look after what we are going to do.

'If we do that well, it will be a difficult afternoon for Blackburn.

'We'll prime the players on everything that we think can happen and then when they cross the white line, it is up to them.'

Something Wilkins and colleagues won't mind seeing continue on Sunday is the recent run of goals from defenders which has seen John Terry and Alex find the net in the past month.

'The way Felipe is asking the full backs to play especially, you find them in the box regularly, and if the ball is there to be played forward and followed by the centre-backs then follow it forward,' reckons Wilkins.

'We have John Mikel Obi who sits anyway and can drop back so there is no problem - and Alex should have had the second against Sunderland.'

One player who will be hoping to restore his goal total on Sunday is Salomon Kalou. He had a deflected effort against Middlesbrough ruled an own-goal this week by the Premier League's Dubious Goals Panel.

'I see so many goals given to forward players when it is pretty evident it is not their goal that I think that is a bit harsh to be honest,' said Wilkins. 'It is a shame and I am sure Salomon will be a bit gutted.'