FEBRUARY NEWS LINKS 2011
(latest stories at the top)
Aston Villa 4 -
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1 Blackburn Rovers |
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Villa Park again ... Same result!
NIKI KALINIC
So 3-1 in the League Cup, 3-1 in the FA Cup and now 4-1 in the Premier League - Villa Park is NOT a place that Rovers want to play. And it all seemed to be going so well! With 5 changes an even (ish) first half saw everything square at the break. But then just after the re-start Keith Andrews gave away a penalty and Ashely Young scored from the spot. The Manager saw that as the turning point, and with the unfortunate Grant Hanley credited with their second as he connected with Stewart Downing's corner it was 2-0 just after the hour. Rovers haven't come back from behind this season - and today wasn't going to change that. Two minutes later Downing made it 3 and despite a consolation goal fro Niko Kalinic in the 80th minute, Ashley Young made it for for Villa just 90 seconds later to round of a very disappointing afternoon - again - at Villa Park. It's now five games since Blackburn picked up maximum points - just the one collected from the home draw with Newcastle. The team had a very good win for the reserves last week, and all had looked positive when they returned from their short sunshine break. But they were without Chris Samba who picked up a Virus, and David Dunn among others. Kean started with a five man midfield and Roque Santa Cruz as a solo striker. Jason Roberts and Niko Kalinic changed that when they came off the bench - but to rub salt ion the wounds Ryan Nelsen collected a second yellow and Rovers finished with ten men and will miss the influential club captain next week at Fulham.
Steve Kean told the BBC:"We set up to try and nullify Villa through the middle of the pitch by playing three in there. We were excellent in the early part and trying to get a clean sheet as a platform. Villa started to get on top just before half-time and I felt we were getting a little bit deep. We said it was important to keep it tight for the first 15 minutes of the second half and then hopefully the crowd would get restless. Before the penalty we had a great chance ourselves and Brad Friedel made a good save and a minute later we are a goal down. It is a bad day after that. We found ourselves chasing the game and being a little bit open."
Blackburn dropped to 13th place and need to pick up points quickly to avoid being sucked down to the bottom 3. They are now only 4 points above that group of teams, and only have three matches in March - Blackpool at home on March 19th now a must win.
IN OTHER NEWS
SKY have moved the Easter weekend derby with Manchester City to Monday April 25th at 20:00 Hrs. The away game at Arsenal has also been picked for TV and is now at 17:30 on Saturday 2nd April.
Steve Kean told the BBC:"We set up to try and nullify Villa through the middle of the pitch by playing three in there. We were excellent in the early part and trying to get a clean sheet as a platform. Villa started to get on top just before half-time and I felt we were getting a little bit deep. We said it was important to keep it tight for the first 15 minutes of the second half and then hopefully the crowd would get restless. Before the penalty we had a great chance ourselves and Brad Friedel made a good save and a minute later we are a goal down. It is a bad day after that. We found ourselves chasing the game and being a little bit open."
Blackburn dropped to 13th place and need to pick up points quickly to avoid being sucked down to the bottom 3. They are now only 4 points above that group of teams, and only have three matches in March - Blackpool at home on March 19th now a must win.
IN OTHER NEWS
SKY have moved the Easter weekend derby with Manchester City to Monday April 25th at 20:00 Hrs. The away game at Arsenal has also been picked for TV and is now at 17:30 on Saturday 2nd April.
LINKS: rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (full report) PLUS goals1011 AND t&t101
Blackburn Rovers 0 -
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0 Newcastle United |
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Points shared - not a classic
A game with few highlights and the least likely scoreline. After last weekend when Rovers scored three and conceded four - while Newcastle came from four goals down to claim a draw, few would have predicted a 0-0 result at Ewood Park. And after ten minutes when Roque Santa Cruz came within inches of claiming his first for Rovers (on his return) it was still expected to be a busy afternoon at each end. But in reality, Steve Harper for Newcastle had little to do, and Paul Robinson made a couple of quality saves, but did little else.
Roque made it to the break to be replaced by Jason Roberts, Junior Hoilett also came off when he felt his groin - Morten Gamst Pedersen his replacement.
The last 0-0 was against Sunderland last year - but the point pleased Manager Stave Keen who told RADIO ROVERS:- "We weren't our normal flowing self, we didn't get enough shots on target. I thought we were a little bit edgy because we'd had a couple of defeats in previous games and it wasn't very pretty to watch from the sidelines and I don't think the players found it enjoyable to play in. We set out with the target of taking a clean sheet and we got that, so we'll take that from the game. We weren't putting our passes together to get a hold of the ball in the middle of the pitch. It was very tight, both sides were squeezing up the back fours so there wasn't a lot of space to play in. We didn't have too many opportunities unlike in previous games. We've broken the sequence of defeats, we take the point and move on."
The result saw Rovers stay 11th on goal difference below 10th Placed Newcastle, and now have a two week 'sunshine' break before traveling back to Villa Park at the end of the month. There's no return to Ewood 'till March 19th - for the much anticipated derby with Blackpool. (12th February 2011)
Roque made it to the break to be replaced by Jason Roberts, Junior Hoilett also came off when he felt his groin - Morten Gamst Pedersen his replacement.
The last 0-0 was against Sunderland last year - but the point pleased Manager Stave Keen who told RADIO ROVERS:- "We weren't our normal flowing self, we didn't get enough shots on target. I thought we were a little bit edgy because we'd had a couple of defeats in previous games and it wasn't very pretty to watch from the sidelines and I don't think the players found it enjoyable to play in. We set out with the target of taking a clean sheet and we got that, so we'll take that from the game. We weren't putting our passes together to get a hold of the ball in the middle of the pitch. It was very tight, both sides were squeezing up the back fours so there wasn't a lot of space to play in. We didn't have too many opportunities unlike in previous games. We've broken the sequence of defeats, we take the point and move on."
The result saw Rovers stay 11th on goal difference below 10th Placed Newcastle, and now have a two week 'sunshine' break before traveling back to Villa Park at the end of the month. There's no return to Ewood 'till March 19th - for the much anticipated derby with Blackpool. (12th February 2011)
Wiagn 4 -
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3 Blackburn Rovers |
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7 goal thriller - but again no points
DAVID DUNN
The local derby saw over 4000 Blackburn fans travel the short distance down the M6 to Wigan, and they must have been delighted when just 20 minutes in, former Wigan striker Jason Roberts gave the visitors the lead. They wouldn't have been half as happy when James McCarthy claimed the first of two to level the scores 10 minutes later. Blackburn dominated large periods of the first half play, and should have had another before the break. But as the rain continued to turn the Latics ground into a sandpit, it took less then five minutes for Wigan to make it 2-1 this time Hugo Rodallega the scorer, and worse was to come five minutes later with that second from McCarthy. This time it was only two minutes before Chris Samba headed in to make it 3-2 and Rovers saw a real chance to collect at least a point ... But when Michel Salgado gave away a penalty, Ben Watson made it 4-2 and the hill looked much steeper to climb. Blackburn hadn't scored from the spot this season - and with just ten minutes left David Dunn was brought down by Emmerson Boyce and scored his teams first spot kick of the campaign. Sadly despite some last minute chances that's where the goal feast finished - and at 4-3 Blackburn will wonder how they managed to give Wigan all three points. Steve Kean was certain it was a game they should NOT have lost ... The Manager told the clubs official website he was disappointed not to come home with anything:"To score three goals away from home and not get anything from the game is really disappointing, I felt we deserved a point at least.We need to work on defending as a team, it isn't just the back four and the goalkeeper, everybody in the team have to be more aggressive.We are doing some things right, but when we lose possession in the middle we have to be more demanding to minimise the number of counter attacks, we were easy to break down."
On a record day for goals in the Premier League - the result sees Rovers drop out of the top ten on goal difference, and they are now level with Newcastle who have a superior goal difference. Newcastle are next at Ewood Park - next Saturday. The Toon came from 4-0 down to Arsenal to level the score at 4-4. It should make for a great game - but a must win for Rovers at home. (5th February 2011)
On a record day for goals in the Premier League - the result sees Rovers drop out of the top ten on goal difference, and they are now level with Newcastle who have a superior goal difference. Newcastle are next at Ewood Park - next Saturday. The Toon came from 4-0 down to Arsenal to level the score at 4-4. It should make for a great game - but a must win for Rovers at home. (5th February 2011)
John Williams
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Leaves Ewood |
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Chairman decides it's time to go
JOHN WILLIAMS
Chairman John Williams has kept a low profile since the new owners came in at Blackburn , and after the departure of Big Sam, there was always speculation that the popular figure would also leave the club. It's understood that he decided to step down after talks with Venky's owners, who were at Ewood for the defeat to Spurs on Wednesday night. Mr. Williams told the clubs official website: "There is a new order, a new way of doing things and I believe the time is right for me now to move on.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the club, its owners, management, players, employees and supporters all the very best for the future."
And the site also quote Managing director Tom Finn paying this tribute: "All of us here at Ewood Park, our owners and I am sure all our fans, would like to take this opportunity to thank John for the contribution he has made during his tenure and we send him our best wishes for the future."
John was at the club for 14 years, and might well be remembered for his remarkable cost cutting to make season and matchday tickets some of the cheapest in the league. With Sam Allardyce he also introduced the Darwen End season ticket at just £150 brining a new group of young fans in to support their local team. (4th February 2010)
And the site also quote Managing director Tom Finn paying this tribute: "All of us here at Ewood Park, our owners and I am sure all our fans, would like to take this opportunity to thank John for the contribution he has made during his tenure and we send him our best wishes for the future."
John was at the club for 14 years, and might well be remembered for his remarkable cost cutting to make season and matchday tickets some of the cheapest in the league. With Sam Allardyce he also introduced the Darwen End season ticket at just £150 brining a new group of young fans in to support their local team. (4th February 2010)
LINK: rovers.co.uk ALSO bbc.co.uk
Blackburn Rovers 0 -
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1 Tottenham |
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Rovers create all the chances - but collect no points
CHRIS SAMBA
The day started so well - with the news that Chris Samba had signed a new contract to keep him at Ewood Park 'till 2015! The game didn't start quite so well - just three minutes in and Peter Crouch had headed past Paul Robinson to make it 0-1. There seemed to be more than a hint of off side - but the goal stood and was also to be the winner. Samba himself could have stolen a 90th minute point - but just failed to beat Gomes who'd been in fine form all evening. David Dunn had two or three wonderful chances, and the manager counted 11 shots on goal in total - so to get nothing from the night was very frustrating. The new owners from India were in the directors box to watch the game - and must have been pleased with the type of play - if not the result. Steve Kean told RADIO ROVERS that it just wasn't our night ... "I think in all honesty if we'd have got a point we'd have been disappointed.. I thought we had the game by the scruff of the neck, we've had eleven shots on target, we've had the ball in the Spurs penalty area forty-odd times, and their goalkeeper is man of the match. So I think we gave it a really good go. Obviously Crouch is fantastic in the air, and we are all disappointed that we didn't have pressure on the ball, a ball that has come along way and then he's got a good contact on the ball with his header. I was delighted with the performance and the effort from the lads, the fans certainly saw that we had a go. It wasn't our night but we'll keep at it, more performances like that will see us gaining a lot more points."
Rovers stay in the top ten - dropping just one place to 9th and now hope for more joy in the Lancashire derby at Wigan on Saturday. (2nd February 2011)
PLUS - CHRIS SAMBA CONTRACT .... Chris told reporters "It is a good feeling. We have been in discussions for a little time, I needed a couple of answers. But the way we have played and the players brought in means we are not far off being a top club in the league."
Rovers stay in the top ten - dropping just one place to 9th and now hope for more joy in the Lancashire derby at Wigan on Saturday. (2nd February 2011)
PLUS - CHRIS SAMBA CONTRACT .... Chris told reporters "It is a good feeling. We have been in discussions for a little time, I needed a couple of answers. But the way we have played and the players brought in means we are not far off being a top club in the league."
LINKS: rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (full report) PLUS goals1011 AND t&t1011 ALSO bbc.co.uk (Chris Samba)
Formica and Rochina
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sign for Rovers |
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Deadline day in's and out
FORMICA
ROCHINA
So the January window has closed and as promised Blackburn Rovers have done some deals. Not only have they added to the squad with signings and loan deals - but more of the existing players have signed new contracts and at the 11th hour another has headed north of the border. The big news was the capture of Ruben Rochina from Barcelona, and then Mauro Formica who joins from Newell's Old Boys. At 19 and 22, both players bring youth to the team, and both signings pleased manager Steve Kean: "Ruben is a genuine addition to our senior squad, a young player with great ability. Mauro is a fantastic talent, an attacking player with great technical ability who has been in great demand."
Already on the books are Jermaine Jones and Roque Santa Cruz who came in a few weeks ago. News also today that Jason Roberts has signed a new deal keeping him at Ewood to the end of next season. Going out is El-Hadji Diouf, who's headed up to the SPL to join Rangers on loan for the rest of the season.
You can watch an EXCLISIVE interview with new signing Formica on the Blackburn Rovers official website via the 'RoversPlayer' (subscription)
Just across the county in Blackpool, a former Rovers - Blackburn boy James Beattie has come down from Rangers to join the seasiders on loan. What didn't happen was the expected move out of Bloomfield Road of Charlie Adam. The club were always keen to keep their prized player. But the transfer headlines were stolen by Fernando Tores - leaving Liverpool to join Chelsea on a five and a half year contract thought to be a new British record of around £50 million!
Blackburn are back at Ewood Park on Wednesday to play Spurs, who like Rovers went out of the FA cup at the weekend. So time to concentrate on the league then! (31st January 2011)
LINKS: bbc.co.uk (full details) ALSO rovers.co.uk (Formica) AND rovers.co.uk (Rochina) AND FULL JANUARY ARCHIVE
gjmedia.co.uk
(c) MMXI
(c) MMXI