Blackburn Rovers 4 - Charlton 1
Two more for Jason & Three more points
Rovers started and ended "Operation Ewood" very strongly - and in the middle Charlton looked likely to cause some problems. They brought over 6000 fans in dozens of buses and turned the Darwen end in to their stadium - but for Alan Pardew the day closed closer to relegation, and his team down to nine men. Despite those early chances for Rovers, it was still 0-0 at the break, and it was beginning to get frustrating from both sets of fans. Then with an hour gone Jason Roberts slotted home his and Rovers first of the afternoon. But within 10 minutes the scores were level thanks to Darren Bent and a mix up at the back. Charlton saw a way back and continued to pressure, but things started to go wrong for the visitors when Ben Thatcher collected his second yellow and saw red and the tunnel. Now playing against ten men, it was Rovers who picked up the momentum, and it paid off. Hermann Hreidarsson found his defensive duties tricky as he gifted Rovers an own goal, and within three minutes Jason Roberts was back on the score sheet with his second. Mark Hughes chose to bring on Matt Derbyshire for Benni McCarthy, who rewarded the boss with a lovely goal with just 8 minutes left. Having fielded all their subs, Charlton's final bit of bad luck came with an injury that left them with nine men on the field. Their fans did their bit right until the end - and Blackburn can thank them for creating a brilliant atmosphere.
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS "We benefited from the extra player. It was made a little bit more difficult when they got back on level terms, but in fairness we've showed a great attacking threat for a number of games now and haven't been able to convert the chances. Fortunately in the last period we showed a lot of energy and a lot of drive and we could have ended with more."
There was a concern when David Dunn went of with an injury (to be replaced by Tugay) but he later told RADIO ROVERS it was only a minor problem.
For Charlton, Alan Pardew told reporters: "I thought events conspired against us. Blackburn were the better side in the first half but didn't really carve us open. Then we lost a man but we kept fighting and thought we were going to win it. But it got away from us." Charlton are now second bottom, and almost certain to go down. (28th April 2007)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report)
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Fulham 1 v Blackburn Rovers 1
A game they should have won ...
Rovers dominated the second half and should have scored a hat full. Benni, Jason and Morten all causing problems for the Fulham keeper. But it was in the first half that the damage was done, Vincenzo Montella giving Fulham the lead after just 8 minutes. Knowing they couldn't afford to drop points, it was Blackburn who kept asking the questions - but the home side now under Lawrie Sanchez still trying to turn their season around. Commentators question many of the Ref's decisions - none of which seemed to favour the visitors. Benni McCarthy claimed his 21st for the season when he got the equaliser on 60 minutes. Mark Hughes told reporters that he couldn't work out how Blackburn didn't win. "We are scratching our heads somewhat wondering how we haven't come away with the three points. In the second half we completely dominated the game, got back on level terms and really there was one side that was ever going to win the game. "We created numerous chances but weren't able to get the second. We had real clear-cut opportunities that on any other day we probably would have converted."
However the point kept Rovers in 10th place and and still with a game in hand. Watford picked up a point against Man City - but were still relegated, West Ham took all three at home to Everton and Charlton drew 1-1 with fellow struggler Sheffield United. It's Charlton next at Ewood Park on Saturday 28th (21st April 2007)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report)
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Blackburn Rovers 3- Watford 1
Rovers bounce back at Ewood
After a run of disappointing results, and the pressure of that remarkable performance in the FA Cup, Blackburn's reward saw a return to winning ways and the top half of the table tonight. With an unchanged starting eleven, it was Chris Samba who headed home Rovers first after just 6 minutes. Then following on from his debut goal on Sunday, Jason Roberts made it two just 3 minutes later! Douglas Rinadli gave the visitors a life line ten minutes later, before Morten Pedersen thought he'd made it 3-1 - but was ruled of side. However the third came after half an hour from Rovers top scorer Benni McCarthy - his 20th of the season. The Chances continued after the break, but Ben Foster kept them out, and Brad had nothing to do. So 3-1 the final score and three points to pull Blackburn back up to 10th place.
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS "I thought we were excellent tonight, especially in the first half. I thought some of our play was really creative, always on the front foot, always looked to be anticipating things in their half and causing them problems ... I think the performance tonight has shown that we got Sunday's defeat out of our system and we still feel that we've a lot to play for this year." (18th April 2007)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report)
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Blackburn Rovers 1 - Chelsea 2 AET (FA Cup Semi-Final)
Rovers come from behind - but Chelsea find the winner in extra time.
SKY Sports gave Petr Cech Man of the Match - and he needed to be as Rovers found form after the break that outclassed the Londoners.
Frank Lampard opened the scoring for Chelsea after just 16 minutes, and Blackburn struggled to keep pace with the Champions. But with just a goal between them, Mark Hughes managed to motivate his men to play some great football in the second half which saw Jason Roberts claim his first Rovers goal on the hour mark. Morten Gamst Pederesen took the free kick, and Roberts scored from the center if the penalty area. After 90 minutes it remained 1-1 - despite Blackburn creating almost all the chances keeping Petr Cech busy. With 108 minutes gone it was Michael Ballack who found the winner after it looked like Brad Friedel had managed to snuff out the danger. So the dream of the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley is over - and probably Rovers chance of European football next season. Blackburn collected praise from Jose Mourinho and all the sports pundits - but they need now to find form to win all their remaining Premiership matches and hope to make it into a European place. Chelsea will now meet Manchester United on May 19th at Wembley.
50,559 watched and were well entertained at Old Trafford - 25 thousand from Blackburn. Next up the rearranged home tie with Watford on Wednesday. (15th April 2007)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report)
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Another year for Brad
Friedel signs a further extension at Rovers
Rovers American keeper Brad Friedel came to Ewood in the 2000/2001 season after three years with Liverpool. At the time many fans were confused by the decision of Manager Greame Souness to appoint Brad his "Number one" and replace John Filan (now at Wigan) who seemed on top form. Today Brad's achievements speak volumes, and he's considered one of the best in the world. He gave up his International duties for the USA some years ago, saying then that he wanted to concentrate on playing for Rovers. He'll hope to crown this season's ever present performances with a clean sheet at Old Trafford in today's FA Cup (sponsored by e-on) semi-final against Chelsea
Friedel told rovers.co.uk; - "I am delighted and it was an easy situation. I love being here and the fact that the club wants me to stay on a little longer is great. Rovers showed great faith in me when I wasn't playing first team football at Liverpool and I remember things like that. This has proved a tremendous move for me and want to repay the club by giving of my services for as long as I can. I feel in good shape and I hope that some time in the future I will be sitting down to agree another contract - who knows?" (15th April 2007)

Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea
Hear it 'live' on Radio Rovers - On-line
This Sunday when Blackburn take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, RADIO ROVERS will be there too - with exclusive round the world commentary. Log on to rovers.co.uk from 15:00 BST for all the build up, when Gerald Jackson looks back at how we reached the semi's, and collects the thoughts of Rovers players from around the globe, who've always dreamed of playing in an FA Cup Final at Wembley You'll hear from Brad, Benni and Brett (America, Africa & Australia) MGP, Matt Derbyshire , David Bentley, Ryan Nelsen, David Dunn and Mark Hughes - to name a new + all the goals tat took Rovers to the semis.

RADIO ROVERS at rovers.co.uk from 15:00 - kick off 16:00 BST - Sunday 15th April 2007

Former Rover gets the sack
After ten years at Fulham - Coleman goes
When Chris Coleman left Rovers in 1997 in a £2 million transfer to Fulham, no one could have guessed how his life or career might turn out. In 2001 he was involved in a near fatal car crash and despite being forced to retire - his come back in football saw him move into management and two years later (2003) he took over from Jean Tigana as the Cottagers Manager. But with just 35 points on the board, and 7 games without a win, Fulham have today parted company with the former Rover and his his assistant Steve Kean. BBC Sport report that Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez will take over as caretaker for the rest of the season. (11th April 2007)
bbc.co.uk (report)

Blackburn Rovers 1 - Aston Villa 2
Rovers loose three in a row
A disjointed affair in which Rovers were probably denied a penalty, and Brad Friedel saved one. After the disappointment of last week at Old Trafford - and the anger that followed the last home tie with West Ham, Blackburn called this a 'must win game'. Sadly they never created enough in front of goal, and managed to let two go past Brad and the back four. Benni McCarthy was back on score sheet, and again from the penalty spot when Phillip Bardsley fouled Pedersen, and Benni coolly converted the spot kick on 23 minutes. Ten minutes later Patrik Berger turned provider for Patrik Berger who found his target from about six yards out. 1-1- at the break, and an expectation that Mark Hughes would motivate his men for more commitment in the second half. . But just one minute in, and Ryan Nelsen was adjudged to have handled the ball, the resulting penalty taken by Stiliyan Petrov, and saved by Friedel. On 72 minutes Gabriel Agbonlahor beat the Blackburn keeper to make it 1-2 and despite some late pressure, that's how it stayed.
Mark Hughes kept the team in the dressing room for the best part of an hour, and told RADIO ROVERS that his hopes of Europe through the league had probably evaporated. The Manager hinted at a belief some players had their minds focused on next weekends FA cup semi-final:-
"I'm not going to lay the performance at the feet of the semi-final but I think today we needed to be on the front foot and we weren't. We allowed them to pen us into our own half, we overplayed in our own half, didn't get behind them at all, and we didn't create enough chances and momentum in the game, and if you don't do that it is very difficult to win Premier League games." .... "They got everything that they deserved, they deserved to win the game today and we didn't" (7th April 2007)

rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report)
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Savage Setback
He could now miss the rest of the season
It had looked as if Rovers midfield star Robbie Savage was on course fro a return to action before of the end of the season - with recovery ahead of schedule. But today Mark Hughes told reporters that any chance of seeing him action before next term now looks unlikely.
SKY sports quote the Rovers Manager as saying:- "Robbie has had a little bit of a setback after doing exceptionally well. There is a problem with the healing around the site of the injury. It probably takes him out of the equation for the rest of season. We are disappointed but it will not be a problem for him next season." (5th April 2007)

SKY Sports