The plan looks like it was one of damage limitation - with ten men behind the ball for large periods, and Rovers trying simply to keep Manchester City at bay. Well if that was the idea, it sort of worked for the first half hour as City retained possession and tried desperately to beat a stubborn Paul Robinson. The Rovers keeper making a couple of superb saves, but then beaten by Mario Balotelli to make it 1-0. The Olsson twins played together for the first time (Marcus debut), but Rovers were without Gael Givet and Jason Lowe through suspension, and obviously no more Chris Samba. The Blackburn Manager seemed to have told the squad that if they could keep it tight for the start of the second period, there might be a chance to break forward - but it only took Sergio Aguero five minutes to find a way past Robinson and make it 2-0. Best laid plans etc. Rovers had still not had one shot on target, and the result seemed inevitable. Mario Balotelli was replaced by Edin Dzeko, and three minutes later he made it 3-0, and Blackburn were well beaten. The possession for the match was 82% to 18 % and at the end of the 90 minutes Rovers had found only 2 shots on target to City's 13. A one sided match, and a result that realistically most Blackburn fans expected. Steve Kean told reporters that March would be a key month for his team, with Aston Villa up next at Ewood Park. He admitted that he was disappointed with today's outcome, but felt other games would offer more likely opportunities to find the points needed to stay in the top flight - and see the return of Givet and Lowe. Blackburn dropped back into the bottom three on goal difference, level on points with QPR but 5 goals worse off in goal difference. (25th February 2012)

LINKS: bbc.co.uk (full report and stats) ALSO rovers.co.uk (report) PLUS goals1112 AND t&t1112

Chris Samba moves out - to Russia

Despite Blackburn Rovers wishes that want away captain Chris Samba was going nowhere, tonight the 27 year old headed East to Anzhi Makhachkala for an undisclosed fee. The Russian window closed at 20:00 hrs this evening, He put in a transfer request during the Uk January window which was rejected out of hand. Reports this week had suggested that he was about to return to first team action, but rumours last night linked the big defender with the move to the big spending and the big wage paying Russian outfit. Talking to SKY he said "I see it as a new challenge. It's a little club who want to become a very big one in Russia. A very powerful owner wants to transform the club and bring the club to greatness."
The France-born centre-back came to Ewood Park in 2007 from Hertha Berlin. He made 184 appearances in all competitions, (also playing up front) scoring 18 goals. His big stature meant that he was always a threat in the box - attacking or defending.
Meanwhile the move will see Samba join his team mates in Moscow, because due to security problems in Makhachkala, they have to travel over 1,200 miles to play their home matches. Rovers have little chance of replacing the player before the Summer window opens. (24th February 2012)

LINKS: rovers.co.uk (statment) ALSO bbc.co.uk (details)

Blackburn Rovers youngster Josh Morris has signed a new deal to keep him at Ewood Park 'till 2014. The 20 year old has been with the club since he was 12, and come through the youth team and is already an Under 20 International. He told the clubs official website "The manager has already shown his trust in young players and that was one of the main reasons why I was happy to extend my stay at the club. It's a great place for young players to be and hopefully I can repay the faith that they have shown in me. To get another two-and-a-half years is a good foundation, so hopefully I can kick on now and get some more games under my belt."
(23rd February 2012)

LINKS: rovers.co.uk (full story)

New dates at home and away

With the second half of the season well under way and some crucial fixtures scheduled, the TV cameras seem keen to watch whether Rovers can retain the Premier League status. The latest list of televised games sees two more matches moved to accommodate the broadcasters. The Easter Monday afternoon game at home to Liverpool will now instead be on SKY the following evening (Tuesday 10th April) at 8:00 pm. Also moved is the away game at Spurs - now to be played on Sunday afternoon (April 29th) at 4:00pm. It had been due to be played the previous afternoon at 3:00. Also moved for different reasons is the home tie with Sunderland. They progressed in the cup and the match will now be moved to a date still to be confined. AND - what could be a crucial final home game of the season against Wigan will move to Sunday May 6th in common with all other Premier League games - as the scheduled date (May 5th) would clash with the FA Cup final.
So Rovers will now only play two more home games on Saturday at 3:00pm this season, and including Manchester City this Saturday, will have four games shown live on TV. Just in case the run in wasn't tough enough!! (22nd February 2012)

LINKS: rovers.co.uk PLUS fix1112

Three goals - Three points - vital win aty Ewood

Ten man Rovers - routed by the Arsenal

No trip to Arsenal has ever been easy - but this one saw Rovers biggest defeat of the season, and Gael Givet seeing red for 'serious foul play' on Robin van Persie. Things didn't start well for Blackburn, with the Gunners 1-0 up within the first minute van Percie with his first of three on the afternoon. But Rovers had hope when Morten Gamst Pedsersen claimed an equaliser direst from a long range free kick on the half hour. However Arsenal quickly were ahead again with van Percie's 2nds and then Chamberlain scored the first of his to make it 3-1 at the interval. Just ahead of half time Givet saw red - so Blackburn knew they had a big mountain to climb to get anything out of the game. Five minutes after the restart Mikel Arteta made it 4-1, then three minutes later Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain claimed his second to make it 5-1. Everything was going the home teams way, and on the hour mark Robin van Percie secured his hat trick and that looked like that. Rovers only managed three shots on target in the whole game, and Chamberlain was replaced by on loan icon Thierry Henry who just had to get in on the act. Mind you he left it late - three minutes into injury time reminding Rovers of a trip to Old Trafford last year when Big Sam was still in charge. Obviously not an afternoon with much to celebrate for the Blackburn Manager today - Steve Kean telling reporters:- "It's a difficult day for us because it's a difficult enough venue to play at with 11 men. It's the first time this season when we've been really turned over. We wanted to stay in the game after scoring, and not let the opposition get back in, but we forced it and let Arsenal back into it. We set ourselves high standards and that was not us today. I'm looking at the reaction of the lads with 30 minutes to go. The goal difference affects us as well. We've let ourselves down. Chris Samba wasn't in the squad today and we'll speak to him on Monday."
Perhaps if the captain had played the result might have been different - but as the mager said this may be a game to try and forget and make sure that next Saturday back at Ewood, QPR get the back lash. (4th February 2012)

LINKS: bbc.co.uk (full report and details) ALSO rovers.co.uk (reaction) PLUS goals1112 AND t&t1112

Blackburn submit 23 names over 21 and a group of youngsters

The 'Admiral' moves on after seven years a Rover

Ryan Nelsen joined Rovers from DC United in the USA before joining Blackburn in January 2005.This January he was released from his contract and a few days after the window closed the veteran defender made a move to London to join up with Tottenham for the rest of the season. He's only played only once since last April due to a knee injury , which he now seems to have recovered from. Just a few weeks ago he return to his home in New Zealand to see if specialists there agreed that he would be able to continue with his playing career. Ryan played against Hudderfield at Brockhall this week, and that became his last game in blue and white. Perhaps surprisingly Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond told reporters that Ryan would be in their squad for Monday's Premier League game at Liverpool. This despite failing to play almost any first team football all season. Nelsen made more than 170 appearances for Rovers and captained New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. We wish him good luck for his future career. (2nd February 2012)

LINKS: bbc.co.uk

All the play - no reward

Anthony Modeste made hi home debut for Rovers, with David Goodwillie off with the flu. He may have had problems with his finishing, but the Frenchman made plenty of chances for himself and should have collected his first Blackburn Goal. The stats show how Rovers dominated this encounter and still collected no reward. Scott Dann was the unlucky man as Ryan Taylor took a shot and Dann diverted it into his won net. Only twelve minutes gone and another clean sheet gone! But from that point on it was almost all Rovers. Paul Robinson had a very quiet night, his opposite number kept very busy. A bizarre incident looked likely to see a Blackburn penalty, but instead Ryan Taylor was shown a yellow card, and Morten Gamst Pedersen took the free kick from the edge of the box, but missed the target . Then with moments to half time Anthony Modeste was fouled by Danny Simpson and David Dunn took the spot kick. A save by Tim Krul, then two Rovers players both tried to put away the palmed away ball, but a save again from Krul. With the first half gone, it only seemed like a matter of time before the equaliser and a winner came for Blackburn, but despite creating all the chances there was no reward. As injury time was played out Gabriel Obertan came off the bench to make it 0-2 and rub salt into Rovers wounds. Frustrating probably reviews the match, unlucky for Blackburn - luck fro Newcastle who moved up to 5th place as Blackburn remained 18th. Steve Kean told reporters: "We've had enough chances to win three games. I think if you are trying to take positives out of the defeat then we are certainly making the chances but we just weren't ruthless enough.... Performance wise we have to be happy with the way we played for the first 15 minutes, we controlled the game... it's a tough one to take because we at least deserved a point, in fact I'd probably have been disappointed to have got a point." As a footnote there was no sign of Chris Samba, and neither of the other two new signings were available for the game. On Saturday it's a trip to London to play Arsenal who could only manage a 0-0 draw at Bolton tonight. (1st February 2012)