Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean insists the league is their priority after being knocked out of the Carling Cup by Cardiff City.< p> Goals from Kenny Miller and Anthony Gerrard condemned the visitors to a 2-0 defeat at Cardiff City Stadium as the Bluebirds did their bit to lift the spirits of a nation rocked by the death of Wales manager Gary Speed by reaching the last four of the Carling Cup for the first time since 1966.

Kean said: "It is a big disappointment. They were on the back foot to start, we had half-chances and pinned them back, but then the confidence starts back up for them when they scored because they're at home where they've been good. It gives everyone a spark.

"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. We have Swansea coming up so I made five changes and left those lads behind. We wanted to make sure we have those lads available for Saturday.

"Saturday has to kick-start our season. We are in a position where we have forfeited going through in this competition and having the chance to reach a cup final.

"We now have games against sides who are within touching distance of us in the league and we need to treat those games as cup finals because we have not got through to the final of this competition."