Blackburn Rovers 2 - Middlesbrough 1
First double of the season - in an Ewood mud bath
The playing conditions couldn't have been much worse - with torrential rain providing a soggy surface on which to play football. Steve Patrick and his ground staff worked right 'till kick off to make sure the match could go ahead - but even they couldn't stop the rain! So it's no surprise that there wasn't that much 'nice' passing play - and much of the time the ball ground to a halt on the turf. Still, it only took 8 minutes for 'Chris' Nonda to open the scoring from a Lucas Neill pass. On the hour mark Neill was adjudged to have fouled Emanuel Pogatetz in the area - and Aiyegbeni Yakubu scored from the spot. But Rovers weren't to be beaten - and despite the weather they continued to pressure the 'Boro defense and were eventually rewarded when Robbie Savage turned provider for Benni McCarthy to score the winner. Back to back wins at Ewood Park - and a great way to end 2006. The three points seeing Rovers move up to 14th - level on points with 12th place Villa.
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS; "It wasn't a game for the purists, but we kept going. Sometimes you have to win ugly and in the past we have found that difficult to do but today we dug in and got the result. We've won four out of the last five games we've played and it is shades of last year when we came on strong in the second half and we hope it is a good sign."
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate told reporters "There is no question it was difficult but we did not do enough in the first half to win the game, and in the second half we threw it away a bit."
Rovers play at Wigan on New Years day - with a real chance of moving back into the top half of the table. (30th December 2006)
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Blackburn Rovers 1 - Liverpool 0
Benni bags the points for Boxing Day!!
The biggest crowd of the season (29,342) created a great atmosphere at Ewood Park for the Boxing Day fixture with Liverpool. On the back of the trip to Arsenal, there were hints that Rovers might be 'up for it';. But for much of the first half Liverpool showed why they had gone for over 11 hours without conceding a goal. They seemed to create chance after chance - but Brad Friedel was up to every test. After the break a much more committed Blackburn emerged, and now it was Liverpool on the back foot. So no surprise when Tugay slotted through a lovely ball to Pedersen who's pass to Benni McCarthy found the striker in the perfect spot to score (his 10th of the season). It was the a close range finish, and after 49 minutes Rovers had the lead. Liverpool kept testing Rovers defense - but the back four and the brick that is Brad were up to the test. An invaluable 3 points to lift Blackburn well away from the bottom three, and just three points away from 10th spot! Tugay was awarded 'Man of the Match' - but he'd be the first to admit it was a massive team effort.
Of the Turkish star Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS; "He has that ability to pick the right pass with the right appreciation of pace and quality of angle. He's a magnificent player and he's playing out of his skin at the moment. Thankfully Benni, like all good goalscorers, he was in the right place at the right time to finish it off. And of Brad Friedel, who seemed to pick up an injury; "He got a bang on his leg and was struggling for maybe a good twenty minutes, but he pulled off one great save down to his left and he came for balls when he had to and helped us immensely as his team-mates will appreciate. There were some big performances from everybody, we are a side that can't carry anybody, everybody has to play their part and everybody certainly did." (26th December 2006)
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Arsenal 6 - Blackburn Rovers 2
... and with with 8 mins to go it was 3-2!
A brace from 'Chris' Nonda and Mark Hughes says there were plenty of positives in Rovers trip to London. After 2 minutes Nonda scored the opener from the penalty spot - Arsenal leveled on 8, and scored again on 22 and 25 mins. But Nonda was back on the scoresheet on 68 minutes bringing it back to 3-2 and Rovers seemed to have a chance to pick up at least a point. But from 84 to 90 mins the Gunners found the net three more times and a remarkable afternoon came to an end. Pedersen should have brought it back to 3-3 - but for a fantastic save ... but that's what might have been.
Mark Hughes was obviously disappointed, but told reporters; "In the second half we had a real go at it and at 3-2 Arsenal were wobbling, but the fourth goal knocked the stuffing out us. We didn't come here just to nullify Arsenal's attack, we came here to win the game and maybe that has cost us today. But we didn't put in a performance worthy of a 6-2 defeat. There was some good performances on our side but in the end we gave ourselves too much to do." (23rd December 2006)
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Could it be Dunny in January?
Life long Rovers fan David Dunn might be heading back home! According to the Daily Mail Steve Bruce is ready to sell when the transfer window opens. The paper say "... Bruce is prepared to take a £3m hit on the playmaker, capped once for his country in 2002, after seeing his latest comeback come to nothing. Dunn is match-fit but has been on the sidelines ever since limping out of the action just minutes into a game at Derby County that marked a huge upturn in the club's fortunes. Since then, Birmingham have won nine from 11 and emerged as the frontrunners for promotion going into the busy holiday programme. Blackburn Rovers failed with a last-minute £2m deadline-day attempt to prise him back to Ewood Park in August, but they failed as Bruce wanted to give Dunn a final chance to prove his fitness."
For the last couple of Christmas's David was reported to have been at Ewood Park watching his former side, and it's no secret that he has told many friends he'd like to make the return to the town and club.
Will Rovers try again??? Watch this space (19th December 2006)
dailymail.co.uk (full story) ALSO bbc.co.uk (sport)

Nelsen return?
Rovers might have good news about the return of Ryan Nelsen. The key defender has missed all season with hamstring problems, but there's news today that suggests he might be available for first team action before the end of January. BBC Sport quote Mark Hughes as saying "Ryan is having some good sessions with the group and is looking like a footballer again. He is positive and must build up the damaged area. If he's back before the end of January we'll be delighted."
With log term injuries to Nelsen, Steven Reid and Jason Roberts, the Manager has had to cope with three key players out, and any return will be a boost. (19th December 2006)
bbc.co.uk (full text)

McCarthy tells it like it is ...
After finding the back of the net 4 times, and only scoring one goal, Rovers top scorer Benni McCarthy has been talking to journalists about his frustration. The Daily Mail on line edition quotes the South African in angry mood, and of the Ref he says; "Graham Poll, for me, is one of the best referees ..." But of his assistants; "whoa! I’ve never had three goals disallowed before. Never in my life would I have ever imagined it happening in England, where everything is much more open. In Spain or Portugal it would be normal because the referees are s**t – I never thought it would happen in England, but today was not my day."
To add insult to injury, Benni then got a yellow card which means he'll miss Rovers trip to Arsenal next weekend. He's alleged to have taken the ball from the goal and rolled it towards the assistant, Andy Williams, before raising his very own imaginary flag - an act which earned him his fifth booking of the season!! "It was childish and stupid on my part, but you get frustrated after three goals are disallowed and your team is losing. And the second one – the lob – was not offside. You get frustrated and then the one goes in and you’re not really in a mood to celebrate. I just thought I’d have a go at everyone else that’d been frustrating my evening." (17th December 2006)
dailymail.co.uk (full story)

Reading 1 - Blackburn Rovers 2
Bentley cracker for Christmas brigs home the points!
It looked as if it could be another Rovers away day with nothing to show for it. Arsenal and Liverpool up next, and by the break Blackburn were already a goal down to a James Harper goal. Rather like other recent performances, this was another game of two halves, with a different Rovers performing in the second half. Benni McCarthy managed to score FOUR goals in the match, THREE adjudged to be off side! However the 4th wasn't and the diving header brought the visitors level at last - 1-1. And despite Rovers pressure, that valuable point seemed the only thing on offer until David Bentley picked up a misplaced pass and proceeded with a one man effort to win the tie. His finish was perfection, and with just 7 minutes to go left Reading with little time to get back in the match.
Mark Hughes seemed to accept that the first half wasn't good enough, and told reporters; "We had a real go in the second half - we were 1-0 down so we needed a reaction and we got it. The way we were playing and the attitude we had in the second half, we weren't to be denied. David's scored quality goals this season, but he'll be very pleased because that one won us the game. It was a really important result for us, we needed to win today." (16th December 2006)
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UEFA Cup Draw
Bayer Leverkusen first hurdle for Rovers in Germany

Blackburn Rovers have been drawn against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.
They qualified for the UEFA Cup finishing fifth place in the Bundesliga last season, and are currently 7th. They lifted the UEFA Cup in 1988 and were Champions League runners up four years ago when they beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United on their way to the final. They lost to Real Madrid.
Rover.co.uk say Rovers should be away in the first leg and home in the second, 14/15th February (away) Thursday 22nd February (home).
If Blackburn go through then they'll face the winners of RC Lens v Panathinakos in the last 16. (15th December 2006)

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Blackburn Rovers 1- AS Nancy 0
Injury time winner from Lucas Neill sees Rovers top the group
Mark Hughes made plenty of changes, for the final Group E game - Matt Derbyshire, Paul Gallagher, Jay McEvely and Sergio Peter all starting. An injury to Andy Todd saw Eddie Nolan come of the bench for his senior start. The game called upon Brad Friedel to show some of his superb qualities, and Nancy certainly tested Rovers resolve, but the Frenchmen really only came fro the point they needed to finish top. Mark Hughes admitted that the tactic probably led to a less than exiting spectacle. Already guaranteed a place in the final 32, Blackburn still hoped to go through group winners. With three minutes of injury time signaled that didn't seem likely - until a cross from David Bentley found captain Lucas Neill about 12 yards out to fire home. There was less than a minute of added time to go - and no chance for Nancy to regroup and get back in the game
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS . "In recent weeks we've had that happen to us - conceding late on - but we kept going and I felt we were the more positive team. They came and were just looking to hit us on the break and were quite happy to see the game out and get the draw that they needed. It wasn't very positive from their point of view and the game was slow and it was difficult to get any momentum in our play because of their attitude to the game, but we kept going and got our reward in the end."

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Rovers Appeal Henchoz Red
Blackburn Rovers have decided to appeal against the red card handed out to Stephane Henchoz in Saturdays game against Newcastle. Referee Dermot Gallagher decided that Stephane had denied Obafemi Martins 'a goalscoring chance' reducing Rovers to ten men after 39 minutes.
BBC Sport report that the appeal will be heard by the FA on Tuesday, and Rovers hope that the player will be cleared for the away game at Reading on Saturday. (11th December 2006)
bbc.co.uk (full story)
Rovers appeal fails
Despite their belief that they had a good claim - the Red card decision against Stephane Henchoz will stand. The FA rejected Blackburn's appeal today in London. Already not eligible to play in the UEFA clash with Nancy, Henchoz will now serve a one-match ban and miss Rovers' Premiership game against Reading this weekend. (12th December 2006)

Blackburn Rovers 1- Newcastle Utd 3
Rovers go down to 10 men - but put on gallant fight back
The start looked positive, with a couple of good early chances - and a McCarthy goal ruled off side. But after half an hour things fell apart when Obafemi Martins scored his first followed with 4 minutes by a second for Newcastle from Steven Taylor. Both goals looked questionable - but stood. Things looked grim - but even worse when on 39 minutes Stephane Henchoz saw RED for a 'professional foul' on Martins. At 2-0 down the break couldn't come soon enough for 10 man Rovers. But the second half got off to a great start when Morten Gamst Pedersen curled a shot in after just 1 minute. Rovers started to show their class and looked likely top get back on level terms - but former Rover Shay Given was on top form. With minutes to go Brad Friedel came down to join in the action. Sadly Martins broke on a long run and beat Brad back to score the simplest of goals in injury time.
Mark Hughes was delighted with the second half efforts and told RADIO ROVERS . "I thought we were absolutely magnificent in the second half. It was a great response from the guys. It is a little bit difficult for us at the moment with decisions that are going against us, we felt that the first one was close to being offside, that one is open to debate, but the second one definitely is, the guy is standing there for a good two or three seconds and when the ball is knocked back into the box he's the guy that ends up scoring the goal."
The defeat sees Rovers back in 16t place and only 2 points outside the relegation zone. (9th December 2006)
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Charlton 1 - Blackburn Rovers 0
Injury time sting in the tail
Being bottom didn't seem to be a problem for Charlton Athletic, and Rovers hopes of continuing their winning ways from Sunday faltered at the Valley.
The home side seemed to claim most of the possession and chances on goal - but it took until past full time for the winning goal to whiz past Brad Friedel from a free kick.
It all left Mark Hughes less than happy with the trip to the capitol, telling reporters "It was a game that had draw written all over it. We did not capitalise on the good opportunities we had and if you don't do that you sometimes get hurt by the sucker punch. It was a poor goal to concede. We need to be more professional in that respect, at that stage you see the game out and take what you can." (5th December 2006)
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All Premiership tie in The FA Cup 3rd round
Rovers away for North West derby
Today's FA cup draw sees Blackburn Rovers schedule for an away at Everton. It's 20 years since both clubs last met in the competition, and that time Rovers went down 3-1 at Goodison. The game will be played on the weekend of January 6th & 7th 2007.
The full draw is:-
Blackpool v Aldershot/Basingstoke Barnet v Colchester Sheff Utd v Swansea Reading v Burnley Portsmouth v Wigan Mansfield/Doncaster v Bolton West Ham v Brighton Leicester v Fulham Derby v Wrexham Wolves v Oldham Bury/Chester v Ipswich Man Utd v Aston Villa Sheff Wed v Man City Tamworth v Norwich Salisbury/Nottm For v Charlton Cardiff v Tottenham Preston v Sunderland Liverpool v Arsenal Bristol Rovers/Bournemouth v Hereford Watford v Stockport Crystal Palace v Swindon Bristol City v Coventry Peterborough v Plymouth QPR v Luton Southend v Barnsley West Brom v Leeds Hull v Middlesbrough Birmingham v Newcastle Torquay/Leyton Orient v Southampton
Everton v Blackburn Chelsea v Macclesfield Stoke v Bradford/Millwall (3rd December 2006)
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New deal for 'the axe'
Mokoena signs up 'till 2009
Blackburn Rovers have announced that South African International Aaron Mokoena had signed a new contract that will keep him at Ewood for a further few years. Aaron told rovers.co.uk that he considers Blackburn to be his second home ... "I am very settled and I feel I can only improve here. The setup is fantastic and the management and coaching staff really help us all. I remain very grateful to the club for giving me the chance to come over to England and play in the Premiership which I believe to be the toughest football league in the world." (2nd December 2006)
rovers.co.uk (full story)

Blackburn Rovers 2- Fulham 0
Nonda sores first home goal and Benni's back on strike
Jan Lastuvka had a rude welcome to Blackburn (& his first Premiership start) - as stand in keeper for Fulham he couldn't have been is a better position to see Shabani Nonda to find the net for his first Ewood goal. That was barely 6 minutes into the action, and followed 20 minutes later by one from Benni McCarthy as the visitors looked a shadow of the team who beat Arsenal last week. The were chances too fro Morten Gamst Pedersen - but despite his best efforts the score remained 2-0 at the break - and thanks to Brad Friedel - at the end of 90 minutes.
Rovers badly needed the 3 points, and the in sees them up to 14th place with a game in hand. Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS he felt it was a great performance. "It was a comfortable win in the end. I thought we caused them problems, and we dealt with them well in the second half. The points are welcome it is important that we start to get points on the board and we have done. I thought we were excellent today, there were some big performances out there. We weren't to be denied today."
McCarthy got the Man of the Match - but despite a number of key changes - Rovers gelled well as a unit. There were late chances to shine too for subs Matt Derbyshire and Sergio Peter. (2nd December 2006)
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