Gary Bowyer retained his 100% unbeaten record as Rovers Manager as he took the helm again as the Blackburn Boss. Taking over from Michael Appleton for another Lancashire derby, he made 3 changes from the side who claimed a last minute point at home to Burnley almost two weeks ago. But it was Paul Ince's Blackpool that claimed first blood, when Gary Mackenzie connected with Tom Ince's corner with 65 minutes played. But after a scrappy nervous first half it was Rovers who had looked the more likely to break the deadlock, David Jones and Josh King both coming close, after David Dunn had before the break. Over all a pretty even affaire was all square in the 80th when Todd Kane turned provider, and Jordan Rhodes claimed his 20th league goal as a Rovers player. A much better performance convinced Gary Bowyer that a home win would have been a more likely outcome. Talking to RADIO ROVERS he said:- "I think we are a touch disappointed that it isn't all three points. If you look at the number of goal attempts that we've had, and we also had more shots than Blackpool in the game. If you look at the chances in the game we should have been 2-0 up before they scored. Then if you look at their goal the lad is all over Jason Lowe. But I was delighted with the reaction, the lads rallied and had a right good go after what has been a tough ten days for us all. It could have been easy for them to back off, but they kept going and I thought we thoroughly deserved our equalising goal. Then we might have won it. I also thought we had a definite penalty, it is a foul on Kaz all day long and how he doesn't give it I don't know."
The result sees Rovers move up to 15th, 5 points above the relegation zone. On Bank Holiday Monday it's down to Cardiff for a tough away trip to the top side looking likely to play in the Premier League next season. (29th March 2013)

Michael Appleton sacked as Rovers Manager

After a poor run of results since the FA Cup win at Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers third Manager this season lost his job today. Following the departures of Steve Kean, Henning Berg and two temporary men in charge (Eric Black & Gary Bowyer) Appleton was relieved of his responsibilities at Ewood Park this morning after just 15 games. It looks like they have turned back to Bowyer who won three and drew one of his games in charge when Berg was also sacked. Rovers had fallen to 19th place in the Championship, but picked up a valuable point on Sunday with their 1-1 draw against Burnley . The result lifted them to 18th - and just 4 points clear of the bottom three. On twitter past and present players expressed their shock and surprise at the decision. The club also terminated the employment of the new backroom staff that the Manager brought with him and appointed after his move from Blackpool in January. In a short statement the club said: " Blackburn Rovers FC can confirm that Michael Appleton has been relieved of his duties as manager along with assistant manager Ashley Westwood, first team coach Darren Moore and head of senior recruitment Luke Dowling." Appleton is quoted on the BBC sports website as saying: "I am disappointed to be leaving Blackburn Rovers. I would like to thank the players, and wish them all the best for the rest of the season. I would also like to say thanks to the fans who have made me feel so welcome over the past few months." (19th March 2013)

Dunn Done it - in the 95th minute!

With history on their side - Rovers went into the East Lancs derby knowing that a win was needed - to lose was unthinkable . But for long periods of the game the biggest crowd of the season watched as the visitors seemed to be on top in the tie. Some clear fouls seemed to go unpunished - particularly when Jordan Rhodes seemed to be hit in the nose in the penalty area by a very high leg! First blood to his nose - and then to Jason Shackell who reacted first to a rebound off the post to make it 0-1 after half an hour. A physical encounter continued after the break, and the Clarets were down to ten men when Ben Mee saw a second yellow in the 64th minute. Rovers seemed to throw everything forwards - but just couldn't find a way through despite testing Burnley's defense. Six minutes of additional time was signaled and seconds after David Dunn had been announced as the 'Man of the Match' the Rovers veteran became an even bigger hero finding the back of the net in the 95th minute! According to some stats the 100th goal scored against Bunley in competitive games and his first this season. The ground went wild - and the draw felt like a win. Post match he told the clubs official website: "I don't think it was luck that it landed to me in the box, I thought it was fate and I was always going to score that."
Michael Appleton told RADIO ROVERS: "I'm delighted for Dunny, he's had a bad time of it with injuries. Dunny is similar to myself, when knocked you tend to come out fighting and he did that today. To concede the goal that we did was hugely frustrating as it was another set-play ... The players could have given up, since the Arsenal game everything has gone against us. So for them to pull that out of the bag, and it was richly deserved, I'm delighted. So many times we have conceded goals late in games, so it was nice for us to score one for a change."
The result moved Rovers up one place to 18th - just 4 points above the bottom three, and next it's another Lancashire derby against Blackpool on Good Friday (17th March 2013)

FA Cup Dream ends at Ewood

Rovers will meet Millwall again this Wednesday night after a frustrating afternoon at the Den. Rovers Manager Michael Appleton described it as a "Difficult Day" after a poor first half when Blackburn struggled to get the ball down, and created few chances. The second was much better, but by then Adam Henley had already left with a further hamstring injury, to be replaced by Bradley Orr who himself was replaced by David Dunn. The Rover favourite seemed to inject some inject some passion, and the team looked more likely to find a goal, but they struggled all afternoon to break down a dogged home side. When the final whistle went, it was more with relief than celebration, that the game will get a replay at Ewood on Wednesday. The injuries will certainly concern Appleton - post match he said: "It was a difficult day for us, I've lost two right backs through injury. The team has had to chop and change constantly throughout the game, it could have been quite easy for the players to rollover, but they didn't, they stood strong. We switched off once in the game which nearly cost us but ultimately I thought it was thoroughly deserved to get them back to Ewood. With the amount of changes we had to make on the day, to really limit them to one opportunity, which was offside, and long-range shots then we are delighted."
And when the draw was made for the semi- finals at Wembley - Rovers were rewarded with the possibility of meeting Wigan if they overcome Millwall. The other tie will see Manchester United or Chelsea face Manchester City, after United gave up a 2-0 lead to end their home game 2-2. The ties will take place on the weekend of 13 and 14 April.(10th March 2013)

After a game that most Rovers fans including - Manager Michael Appleton - would rather forget on Saturday, Blackburn put on a much better performance at Bolton. No sign of Danny Murphy, and all three who came on at half time against Peterborough started tonight. And the game also saw a debut for Summer signing Leon Best who came off the bench for the last 15 minutes after a long lay off. But although Rovers had their chances, including a great save of a shot by Jordan Rhodes, the game looked likely to end 0-0. And looking at the stats - that would have been a fair outcome. But it was another sub - Chris Eagles - who spoilt the night for the visitors with just 15 seconds left to play of injury time. His long range shot beat Jake Kean to make it 1-0 to the home side and see Rovers fall a further place to 13th in the Championship. With just ten games to go - the play off's now look an unlikely target. Appleton should have been happier with what he saw - but another very late goal and failure to score on the roads yet again, will be worrying. Now it's the FA Cup on Sunday at Millwall, who lost tonight 2-0 in the league to Wolves. (5th March 2013)

Unacceptable and Unexpected

Danny Swanson looked likely to open the scoring after just 3 minutes - but after twelve Rovers were already 2-0 down to Posh, and in the 26th minute Dwight Gayle had got his hat trick and Rovers looked in deep trouble. The first half performance was totally unacceptable for Manager Michael Appleton, and at the break he made three instant changes . Cameran Stewart had come in on loan from Hull City last night and David Jones joined just before noon today to qualify to to play in this afternoon's game. Both received debuts and Adam Henley also came off the bench as the three replace Bradley Orr, Danny Murphy and David Bentley. The difference was obvious with Jason Lowe and Scott Dann coming close as did Jordan Rhodes, before the season's top striker pulled it back to 3-1 in the 72nd minute - ending his 'goal drought'. David Jones really impress and had just been announced as 'man of the match' when he claimed his first Blackburn goal in injury time. The Manager pulled no punches when he talked to RADIO ROVERS post match:- "I won't be able to put that first half performance to bed for the rest of the season. It answered a few questions with certain people today. I think what happened today has been the problem over the previous five months ...There weren't players in that first half, that, for me, looked as if they were motivated to try and win a game of football. If the rules had allowed I'd have made six or seven changes at the break rather than the three I did make. It was chalk and cheese second half. Yes we gave them a couple of chances but that was only because we were so positive in throwing men forward. The chance that Lowey had, if that had gone in I would have backed us to go on and win it rather than just get a point. I think there was 12 or so minutes to go at that point. But it wasn't to be and now it is an opportunity for five or six players, including the lads that have come in, to show what they can do." Rovers fell to 12th in the league - 10 points behind 6th place Brighton. Next weekend it's back to the FA Cup at Millwall, but before that a big derby night at Bolton on Tuesday. (2nd March 2013)