Accrington Stanley 1 - 2 Blackburn Rovers (full report)
Blackburn Rovers started their pre-season fixtures with a double bill at the Globe Arena, Morecambe. Fans paid just once for an afternoon of football - starting with Accrington Stanley at 12:15 and then the home side at 15:00. Steve Kean will be pleased to have picked up a 2-1 win over Stanley - and a competitive draw with Morecambe. He'll be less pleased that Junior Hoilett departed early in the first fixture with what's been described as a hamstring 'twinge' - which physio Dave Fever doesn't think will be too bad. Rovers goals came from Keith Andrews and Niko Kalinic against Stanley - and Mauro Formica v Morecambe.
Full match reports are available on the clubs official website (see links below)
So now it's off to the 'Barclays Asia Trophy' for a few fixtures before Kilmarnock at the start of August.
The season proper starts of course on August 13th at Ewood Park v Wolves (16th July 2011)

Morecambe 1 - 1 Blackburn Rovers (full report)
Blackburn Rovers started their pre-season fixtures with a double bill at the Globe Arena, Morecambe. Fans paid just once for an afternoon of football - starting with Accrington Stanley at 12:15 and then the home side at 15:00. Steve Kean will be pleased to have picked up a 2-1 win over Stanley - and a competitive draw with Morecambe. He'll be less pleased that Junior Hoilett departed early in the first fixture with what's been described as a hamstring 'twinge' - which physio Dave Fever doesn't think will be too bad. Rovers goals came from Keith Andrews and Niko Kalinic against Stanley - and Mauro Formica v Morecambe.
Full match reports are available on the clubs official website (see links below)
So now it's off to the 'Barclays Asia Trophy' for a few fixtures before Kilmarnock at the start of August.
The season proper starts of course on August 13th at Ewood Park v Wolves (16th July 2011)

Blackburn Rovers 0 - 1 Aston Villa (full report)

Rovers won't be in the final of this years Barclays Asia Trophy. With just four sides in the competition, they needed to win their opening match with Aston Villa in Hong Kong. But despite some entertaining football, and an impressive performance from Mauro Formica a goal from Darren Bent just after the break was enough to see Aston Villa through to meet Chelsea in the final. Steve Kean seemed pleased with the work out - and the 90 minutes of competitive football played out in the blazing heat.
To read the full match report please click on the link below. Blackburn now face Kitchee in the saturday on Saturday - they lost 4-0 to Chelsea in their game. (28th July 2011)

Blackburn Rovers 3 - 0 Kitchee (full report)

Hot stuff from Rovers in the stifling heat as they came third in the Asia Trophy. Kitchee lost their opener to trophy winners Chelsea on the opening day 4-0 - and conceded a further three to Blackburn. Formica, Dunn and Blackman all found the back of the net as a changed Rovers side eased past the local champions. Mauro Formica was first to score after 35 minutes with his second pre-season goal. David Dunn put a beauty away from 20 yards in the 70th, and with just 7 minutes to go Nick Blackman wrapped things up from the penalty spot to make it a happy 3-0 result. And despite a slow start on a hot evening, Steve Kean told reporters:
"It was difficult conditions in the first half and I felt as though we never really penetrated enough. But in the second half I thought the lads did that and in the end we thoroughly deserved our win. (he also confirmed Chris Samba's omission). "Chris had a groin strain, he had a scan this morning and the doctor told us there was a little bit of fluid so it would have been a risk if he'd have played, he might have overstretched it." Pre-season ends next weekend in Scotland when Rovers play Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon (30th July 2011)