Rovers v Sunderland -put on ice!
Blackburn Rovers big home fixture over the holidays was frozen out when Referee Phil Dowd inspected a white pitch and declared it 'unsafe'; for play. The Ewood Park ground failed to pass the test when Mr Dowd gave it a full inspection at 18:00, then talking live on Radio Rovers he said "The players safety is paramount, I couldn't stand up out there. I had a look at 5.30pm and made the decision to look again half an hour later, upon doing so it was an easy decision to make."
The game down the road at Bolton had already fallen to the freeze but Blackburn hoped that their efforts to stage their match with Sunderland would still go ahead. Also speaking to Radio Rovers, MD Tom Finn added "We have never lost a home Premier League fixture to frost and we can only offer our sincere apologies to all supporters, especially those who have travelled down from the north east. We now intend to carry out a full investigation of the heating system in an effort to ensure that the situation does not happen again in the future."
Manager Mark Hughes told Rovers World that was disappointed after a good run over Christmas and a great chance to pick up 3 more points. And the boss admitted that it might be March before the game could be re-scheduled.
Also called off on the night was Newcastles home tie with Charlton, so all three North East sides found their fixtures called off, and their could be problems at the JJB on Saturday with forecasters suggesting that heavy snow might hit the region at the end of the week.
Rovers remained in 11th place. (28th December 2005)
rovers.co.uk (Mark Hughes) PLUS rovers.co.uk (reaction)

Brace from Shefki - 2 wins in the week against Boro'!
Middlesbrough 0 - Blackburn 2
It could easily have been a Kuqi hat trick - but Mark Hughes was more than pleased with the win, clean sheet and 3 points for Blackburn at Boro'. A rare start for the Finn was rewarded with his first goal after 38 minutes thanks to an Emerton Cross, and then a pass from sub Craig Bellamy to net his second with 11 minutes to go.
A delighted Hughes told reporters "We're really pleased with the performance - in fact the only disappointment was that Shefki Kuqi failed to get a hat-trick. He was a star - a real thorn in Boro's side in this game and the Carling Cup win earlier in the week. In fact, everyone was excellent out there."
The win moves Rovers up to 11th in the Premiership with Sunderland next at home on Wednesday evening.(26th December 2005)

rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

89th Minute goal from Paul Dickov sees Rovers in the Semi's
Middlesbrough 0 - Blackburn 1
Another game of domination from Rovers with a corner within the first NINE seconds! But despite plenty of chances and most of the possession, Blackburn had to wait for the 89th minute to break the deadlock. Shefki Kuqi was responsible for the pass - and Paul Dickov for the goal that puts the Blues in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup..
Boro' had a chance to force extra time moments later - but hit the upright.
The draw for the semi-finals was delayed by extra time and penalties at the Doncaster Rovers v Arsenal game, which ended 2-2 after extra time - but the Gunners won the penalty shoot out. Last season Rovers went to Cardiff for the semi-finals of the FA Cup - so it's the second successive season that mark Hughes has taken his side to this level.

Semi-Final draw.
Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United!
Rovers rewarded with a home tie in the first leg of the semi-finals- against Manchester United. Wigan are also at home to Arsenal, keeping the 'big' two apart.
Rovers faced United at the same stage in the 2002/03 season, drawing 1-1 away and then losing 3-1 at Ewood Park in the return leg.
The games will be played on Wednesday, January 11 and 25.

Hear the full draw bbc.co.uk (full draw)

rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) carling0506 goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

All the chances - none of the points
Fulham 2 - Blackburn 1
Another frustrating afternoon in London for Rovers, with the boys again creating a host of great chances - no one could find the target. Just like last week at home to West Ham, the opening goal came right at the end of a lively first half. Papa Bouba Diop scoring in the 45th. Fulham's second came just 6 minutes after the break from Luis Boa Morte. Blackburn hit the woodwork, found the Fulham keeper and headed wide - but couldn't find a way back. It took a 90th minute header from Zat Knight to credit the visitors with something, as he put the ball into his own net. Another scoreline that doesn't tell the true story, and Mark Hughes shared the travelling fans frustration. He told reporters "We created numerous chances - enough to win two games. We are struggling to get our noses in front and then we pay the price after that. If we had scored the first goal, I am sure we would have won the game. In the second-half we hit the bar, and on another day, that goes in. But I thought the players stuck at it and never let their heads drop."

If dropping points wasn't enough of a penalty - Yellow cards for LUCAS NEILL and PAUL DICKOV, will see both players missing on boxing day - having reached their respective five each.(17th December 2005)

rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

Dickov Brace - Kuqi winner at Ewood
Blackburn 3 - West Ham 2
After a first half better forgotten, which included an injury time goal from Bobby Zamora, Rovers needed to step up a gear to come from behind and salvage the points. Rovers were missing Andy Todd (suspension) Ryan Nelson (injury) and Craig Bellamy (injury) and they found it hard to find any rhythm after a good opening spell. The half time talk did it again, and a foul by Tomas Repka on David Bently led to a penalty taken by Dickov to level the scores. Within 3 minutes the Scott had given Rovers the lead, but five minutes later Marlon Harewood levelled things again. It was end to end physical stuff, and The Hammers picked up six yellow cards as supers sub Shefki Kuqi came off the bench to claim the winner with fifteen minutes to go.
Mark Hughes told Radio Rovers "Obviously we are delighted with the three points. It was a bit 'harem-scare 'em to say the least, certainly in the second half. I thought we'd done OK in the first half, but then we got done by the sucker punch and you think it is shades of the Everton game again. But we came out in the second half and really had a go at them, and got right back into it, but unfortunately allowed them back in again, but showed great character to go for the third. I'm grateful for the three points."
Rovers moved up to 11th before Newcastle beat Arsenal to bush them back to 12th - but with 21 points on the board - it's half way to Premiership paradise at the end of the season! (10th December 2005)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

The FA Cup - Rovers get a home draw in round three,
Blackburn v QPR.
Rovers will be at home for their first game in this years FA Cup, and in a draw that failed to find ANY all Premiership ties Championship side QPR (13th) will make a tasty tie, the teams have never met before in the competition.. But the headlines will focus on Lancashire non-league side Burscough, who (if they overcome Burton on Tuesday) get a home tie with Manchester United!

THE FULL DRAW IS:-

West Bromwich Albion v Reading Fulham v Leyton Orient Brighton v Coventry Wolves v Plymouth Port Vale or Bristol Rovers v Doncaster Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Torquay v Birmingham Manchester City v Scunthorpe Newcastle United v Mansfield Luton Town v Liverpool Preston v Crewe Stoke v Tamworth Derby v Burnley Southampton v Milton Keynes Dons Blackburn v QPR Arsenal v Cardiff Stockport v Oldham or Brentford Norwich v West Ham Ipswich v Portsmouth Wigan v Leeds Sunderland v Woking or Northwich Victoria Chelsea v Huddersfield Cheltenham Town or Oxford United v Chester City Leicester v Tottenham Watford v Bolton Sheffield United v Colchester United Nuneaton Borough or Histon v Middlesbrough Hull City v Aston Villa Barnsley or Bradford v Walsall Burton Albion or Burscough v Manchester United Crystal Palace v Stevenage Borough or Northampton Town Millwall v Everton

UPDATE Tie to be played on the 7th January 2006 at 15:00

bbc.co.uk thefa (full detail) facup0506

Todd sees Red as Rovers loose 2-0 to Everton
Blackburn 0 - Everton 2
Rovers captain Andy Todd was shown a straight red for a controversial 'deliberate hand ball' on the half hour mark, with his side already a goal down at home to Everton. The ball appeared to hit his hand as it left the boot of James Beatie (about a yard away) and Craig Bellamy received a yellow for dissent. Everton added a second just before the break, and there was no way back for Rovers. Mark Hughes was upset by the decision telling Radio Rovers "I thought it was a very harsh decision, and it is twice this has happened to us when Mr Halsey is involved. Whether or not the decision is correct, we'll have to wait and see, but at the time I couldn't believe the decision. As the guy has gone through it has flicked up and hit Andy's hand." Hughes said he felt his side were 'mugged'.
Blackburn could have been 2 up in the first ten minutes, but the sending off seemed to rock the usual calm and solid home form, and despite three substitutions in the second half, they couldn't get on the score sheet.(3rd December 2005)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

Rovers drawn away to Middlesbro' in the Carling ...
Blackburn will be on Teesside twice in the week this Christmas, after this draw this lunchtime saw Middlesborough pick up a home tie with Rovers.
Already due for a Boxing day clash, now they'll also meet on December 20th/21st looking fro a place in the Semi-Fianls.
Full draw: Wigan v Bolton - Doncaster v Arsenal - Birmingham v Man Utd - Middlesbrough v Blackburn.
(3rd December 2004)