GET DOWN EARLY
Blackburn have issued the following message to fans attending the BIG FA cup replay against Burnley at Ewood Park ...
"A big crowd is anticipated for the all-ticket tie (no tickets available of the day) and a convoy of 100 or so coaches from Burnley may lead to increased traffic congestion on the main approaches to the stadium, both before and after the match. Burnley have been allocated approximately 7,000 seats in the Darwen End.
The club say there are many changes to normal match-day arrangements - and they apologise to Rovers fans "... for the inconvenience this may cause, but consider it essential in order to deal with the arrival and dispersal of Burnley supporters in a safe, effective manner. There are no car park passes available for sale for this fixture and all car parks are full. Supporters are advised to note the 'Residents Only' restrictions that apply to many streets around the stadium on matchdays."
FULL DETAILS SEE rovers.co.uk (CLICK HERE)

Douglas to go out on loan
It looks likely that young Rovers midfielder Jonathon Douglas could be heading out of Ewood on loan. The club have confirmed that two Championship sides have enquired for his services, and John Williams told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that "... we have made it clear to Jon and his agent that we are prepared to let him go on a short-term basis. We're now waiting for Jon to let us know which club he fancies joining then we'll try and sort something out from there."
Douglas has only managed two appearances so far this season. (27th Feb 2005)

New Contract for Jemal
Rovers have announced that young striker Jemal Johnson has signed a new deal that could keep him at Ewood 'till 2007. rovers.co.uk report that he's signed a two and a half year contract and the player is understandably delighted telling the website "I'm really happy to have been given a chance to further my career. It has been on my mind for a few weeks, but now that it has been done and dusted I was happy to sign." (22nd Feb 2005)
rovers.co.uk (full story)

Rovers COULD have a 6th round home tie against Leicester City!
If Rovers overcome Burnley in next Tuesdays 5th round replay - the reward will a 6th round game against Leicester City at Ewood Park. The draw on Monday afternoon gives Blackburn a great chance of making it through to the final four. But there's the little matter of Burnley first and Rovers have never beaten Leicester in the FA Cup, drawing once and losing twice! Mark Hughes told rovers.co.uk "Our only FA Cup consideration at the moment is Burnley in the replay, but the prospect of a home draw is all that we could have hoped for, in that respect it is very pleasing, but we still have a big test to beat Burnley."

FULL DRAW :
Newcastle v Tottenham or Nottingham Forest
Southampton or Brentford v Manchester United
Bolton v Arsenal or Sheffield United
Burnley or Blackburn v Leicester
(21st Feb 2005)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) facup0405 (FA cup pages)

Burnley 0 - Blackburn 0 at the Turf
Rovers might have had the better chances - but neither side could find the back of the next in the 5th round of the FA cup. The 21,000 created a fantastic atmosphere for the East Lancs derby. So, to quote Mark Hughes Rovers are still "in the hat" for Mondays draw for the quarter finals. The best chance probably came to Morten Pedersen, but his close range attempt hit the shoulder of a Burnley player, and the score remained 0-0. There was more interest in the streaker and the Burnley fan who calmly walked on the pitch from behind Brad Friedel and the was only confronted after he'd been almongst the players for what seemed like a couple of minutes. Burnley are likely to face an FA enquiry as to how the security breach occurred and the fan face a hefty fine or worse.
"We've been through a difficult tie," Hughes told rovers.co.uk. "We are still in the hat, though we would have liked to have won the game today. I thought the game never lived up to the hype that the crowd suggested before the game, I thought they didn't really play much against us, but we didn't create enough clear cut chances to win the game ourselves."
The replay is scheduled for Tuesday 1st March 2005 at 20:00 hrs at Ewood Park. Quarter Final draw 'live' at 13:30 Monday 21st Feb on BBC 2 and BBC Radio Lancashire (click to listen live) (20th Feb 2005)
bbc.co.uk (report + video highlights and audio) rovers.co.uk (reaction) facup0405 (FA cup pages)

Old Lancs Derby - no comparison to Old Firm Derby ...
Ahead if the Burnley - Blackburn clash this weekend (and the Old Firm derby in Scotland) Barry Ferguson has been talking about his return to Ibrox, and says that the Christmas Derby at Bolton proved to him that he just didn't belong in Lancashire. He told the Scottish Sun (quoted on many websites today) that:
"They had told me at Blackburn that this was it ... this was the derby Rovers wanted to win more than any other game. There were 27 038 there that day and I have to be brutally honest now and say that when I looked around that's when home and Rangers really started tugging at me. I respected what the game meant to Blackburn and the fans but I looked around myself and knew I was in the wrong place."
Rovers former captain suggests that he never really took to being a Blackburn player. In what reads like a snub to his old club he says "I knew then that Bolton-Blackburn just wasn't my place, I was brought up to dream of representing Rangers against Celtic. On Sunday I'll be in the middle of one of the biggest games in the world - I don't think you can argue with that." (16th Feb 2005)
bbc.co.uk (full story) itv-football.co.uk (full story)

Now Amo wants to return to Scotland too ...
BBC sport report that out of favour defender Lorenzo Amoruso says he'd love to join up again with Barry Ferguson at Rangers. The Italian last played fro Rovers in the 4-0 Middlesborough defeat, and has been out injured for some time. Now he says "I was hoping to move in January, because my situation is a bit complicated as I had an operation then the manager has not been using me."
BBC Scotland quote Lorenzo as saying he quite understands his former team-mate's (Ferguson) wishes to rejoin Rangers "His desire to go back to the club he loves was always there, When he got the chance, he did not think twice."
Amoruso cost Rovers £1.4 million in 2003 and has played just 7 times this season. (14th Feb 2005)
bbc.co.uk (full story)

Rangers say NO to Amo go ...
Alex McLeish has now ruled out a switch back to Rangers for Amoruso. He told Rangers TV: "I loved Lorenzo. I thought he played some tremendous football when he was here and he was loved by the fans. However, he is maybe just the wrong age to come back to the club. "What I would say, if he could find me the next Lorenzo Amoruso then I will be delighted." (16th Feb 2005)
sportinglife.com (full story)

1 for Pedersen, 2 for Dickov, 3 for Blackburn..
Rovers collected all the points and were decisive 3-0 winners over Norwich City, on a day that keeper Robert Green would probably be happy to forget. Man of the Match Morten Gamst Pedersen opened the scoring for Blackburn after 17 minutes, and then provided the corner for Dickov's first - headed tap in. The third for Rovers was also Paul Dickov's 99th club career goal - and was one the Canary keeper should have saved - but - they all count!
The weather was bizarre - bright spring like sunshine one minute - then a raging blizzard the next - but the fans rushing to the back for the stands for cover enjoyed the rare site of a clear home win - and forgave the elements!
Mark Hughes told Radio Rovers.. "We are delighted obviously, a 3-0 scoreline and another shutout helps our goal difference.I thought we were very comfortable today, I felt prior to the game there was a steely glint in the eye from some of the players and possibly the manager as well. We are delighted with that performance it was important to win the game, there is a significant gap now between us and the ones below us, so we are pleased about that." (12th Feb 2005)

bbc.co.uk (report) rovers.co.uk (reaction) Goals (all the goals) Table & Tally
[REPORTS ON THIS SITE POSTED LATE -DUE TO NETWORK FAILURE -SORRY ed.]

for Burnley!
Despite getting an extra 155 tickets for the tie at Turf Moore - all Rovers allocation have already gone.
The initial 3,800 + the extra few had all gone by Wednesday morning, leaving many fans disappointed at missing "the game of the season". One small consolation is that it's live on BBC 1 at 13:40 on Sunday 20th Feb - no dish, no subscription! (9th Feb 2005)

"I think I'm probably going to pack in"
Craig Short has been talking to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about his future - and the veteran defender, who made a return to action in the reserves this week, looks likely to call it a day at the end of the season.
Short told the paper ..."When I first got injured over Christmas I said to myself 'right, that's it, I'm finishing now.' Now I've got more of an open mind and if I carry on until the end of the season and feel good then I'll see what happens in June, depending on whether any offers come my way."
Rovers have looked their best defensively when Craig has been fit - but at 37 this year, its' becoming more of a tough test. "Training has been a lot harder under Sparky and I've found that difficult, so I don't want to join a club where I can't do what I used to do."
Craig swapped his boots for a microphone and was Radio Rovers summariser at the last home game against Chelsea. He sounded like a true radio veteran, so whatever his future playing opportunities, he could well have a great career in the media! (9th Feb 2005)
thisislancashire.co.uk (full article) [THIS IS THE ROVERS INDEX PAGE - THE PAPER DOESN'T PROVIDE UNIQUE URL'S FOR STORIES]

Brad to keep it local ...
Rovers keeper Brad Friedel has announced his retirement from International Football. The American says that he wants to put all his efforts into the domestic game, and at this stage of his career that means no more games for his native USA.
BBC Sport quote Rovers number one as saying "I have decided that now is the right time to bring to a close my time representing the US. The Premier League is incredibly demanding and over the remaining years of my career, I want to continue to play at the highest level for my club." (7th Feb 2005)
bbc.co.uk (report)

New Contract for Jemal ??
It looks likely that Rovers youngster Jemal Johnson is set to get a new contract. SKY Sports report Mark Hughes as saying "I've told Jemal he will be getting a new contract offer, he's a confident kid and I've no doubts he'll do the business for us."
Born in America, he's came through the youth ranks at Ewood Park after joining from Manchester United. He made his first team debut this season, and also scored his first goal in the FA Cup win over Colchester. (6th Feb 2005)
skysports.com (full story) .

Another disputed penalty, as Rovers loose 1-0 at Middlesborough
Rovers concede a 35th minute goal from Franck Queudrue but could have been back on equal terms if a penalty had been awarded when Paul Dickov was brought down. Mark Hughes told rovers.co.uk "It was a penalty, but the fact that it wasn't given is some what indicative of how things are going for us right now. We are struggling for goals and it needs someone to step forward and take command of that particular situation. I am not unduly concerned although it is obvious that we still need to win some more matches."
It was Middlesborough's first win of the year - and Rovers third league loss after the controversial games against Bolton and Chelsea. The home side finished with ten men, and despite bringing on Jemal Johnson to join Dickov up front - Rovers couldn't find an elusive goal. (5th Feb 2005)
bbc.co.uk (report) rovers.co.uk (reaction) Goals (all the goals) Table & Tally

Gray is the new White ...
Michael Gray has joined Leeds United on a three month loan deal ..The former Sunderland defender has failed to break into the first team this term. Gray joined Rovers just 12 months ago and was a regular in Graeme Sounes's side. Elland Road boss Kevin Blackwell has taken the Rovers man on because of Stephen Crainey's long-term pelvic problem.
He told the Leeds United Website "We have had a shortage at left-back since Stephen has been out. "I think now is the time to get some experience in there. Michael at 30-years of age is still the right age for us, he's very competitive and is very fit. He's here for three months so he will get plenty of opportunities and have time to settle in." (3rd Feb 2005)

leedsunited.com (full story)

Battling Blackburn - but the points go to Chelsea
Rovers concede an early goal, missed a penalty - and never gave in. It was enthusiastic, entertaining football as the Champions of ten years ago, took on the side likely to be crowned at the end of the season. Arjen Robben scored the only goal in the game for Chelsea after 5 minutes- Paul Dickov had his spot kick saved on the half hour mark. Friedal stopped a Damien Duff shot, but most of the other shots on goal were for Blackburn.
The Manager told Radio Rovers he was delighted with his teams 'magnificent' performance " We gave it a real go and if any team deserved to win it was us. We made Chelsea look ordinary and that says an awful lot about the way we played. We didn't get the reward we deserved and that was the only disappointment for me. Chelsea were fortunate and if their management team is honest, as I hope they are, then they will say the same. We were magnificent and if we continue in that form then we will be fine."
On the pitch there were plenty of 'battles' - but Mark Hughes told the BBC that he was particularly upset by the Chelsea boss who seemed to refuse to shake hands when the game ended. "I was a little bit more upset that the opposing manager was not gracious enough to shake my hand. Sometimes you have to be gracious in defeat but you also have to be gracious in victory afterwards. I have no idea why. Perhaps he was too busy on the field with his players."

And Jose Mourinho was ALSO upset - accusing Rovers of unfair tactics ..."They felt they couldn't beat us playing football so they tried to beat us in a different way - direct football, first ball, second ball, being nasty and hard and trying to intimidate players. During this afternoon it rained only in this stadium - our kitman saw it - they tried everything. There must be a microclimate here. It hadn't even rained here at all and yet the pitch was like a swimming pool!" (2nd Feb 2005)

rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) bbc.co.uk (reaction) Goals (all the goals) Table & Tally

Three more years for Todd
Andy Todd has been rewarded for his outstanding commitment to Rovers defence with an extension to his contract - due to run out this Summer. Todd was out of favour with the pervious Manager - but under Mark Hughes, he's become an integral part of the team, and has also been captain for the last batch of home games. His new contract keeps him at Blackburn 'till 2008, and the Rovers boss told the clubs website ...
"It is really good news. Andy has been fantastic since the day I arrived here. He worked hard to get his chance and when it came he responded magnificently. He is a key member of the squad going forward." (2nd Feb 2005)

rovers.co.uk (full story)