Football: Sherwood urges his Blackburn team-mates to avoid complacency

Tim Sherwood yesterday issued a note of caution to his Blackburn team-mates ahead of today's Coca-Cola Cup second round first leg tie against their Lancashire rivals, Preston North End, at Ewood Park: "Remember Stockport."

The then-Second division side beat Rovers 1-0 in their third-round meeting at Ewood Park last October thanks to an own-goal from Sherwood, in what was Ray Harford's last game in charge.

Roy Hodgson, the Rovers manager, has rejuvenated the club since he took over in the summer but the club captain Sherwood, back after an appendix operation, said: "We have got to get ourselves up for it because it's their Cup final. If we play anything like we can, we should win the game but if we get complacent, they could catch us as you saw last season when we lost to Stockport."

Hodgson has rested Stephane Henchoz, Jason Wilcox, Garry Flitcroft, Patrick Valery and Colin Hendry for the match, though Hendry did suffer a dead leg against Leeds on Sunday.

Martin Dahlin hopes to shrug off a cold and either Flitcroft or Wilcox will play if he is ruled out but Alan Fettis is cup-tied. Ian Pearce returns after a calf injury

Gary Peters, the Preston manager, declared that this was one match his players needed little motivation for. "The game against Blackburn will lift all the lads," he said. "It's a huge game and the players are really looking forward to playing against quality opposition."

Preston's record pounds 500,000 signing from Manchester United, Michael Appleton, is doubtful with a calf injury.

The England striker, Les Ferdinand, is a surprise inclusion in the 21- man squad named by Gerry Francis, the Tottenham manager, for their game with Carlisle, despite suffering from a stomach muscle injury. Francis said: "Les will see a specialist in the morning but I'm refusing to rule him out at the moment."

David Howells will have a late fitness test on a back injury, as will Chris Armstrong on a groin strain.

Bristol City, of the Second Division, will be hoping history repeats itself when they travel to Elland Road for their meeting with Leeds. City beat the then-mighty Leeds 1-0 in an FA Cup fifth-round replay in 1974 at Elland Road - the last time the two sides met in a cup competition.

City will be boosted by the return of the striker Steve Torpey, who starts his first game since suffering concussion on the opening day of the season. Their Welsh international defender Rob Edwards faces a late test on a dead leg, but Sean Dyche is ruled out after knee surgery.