Three IN and .... Three OUT - in January Window ...

With just hours to go in the January transfer window, Blackburn have completed the signing of three player and during the month said goodbye to three old favourites. The big D-Day news is the signing of Florent Sinama-Pongolle - the Liverpool striker -on loan for the rest of the season. Also today Rovers loan deal with Arsenal for David Bantley has become permanent - rovers.co.uk say the player . has signed a three-and-a-half year contract. ALSO in is Martin Olsson, a teenage defender from Swedish club Högaborgs BK, for whom Rovers have paid a small transfer fee. Mark Hughes says"Martin is another young player who impressed us during a recent trial and we feel he will go on to prove to be a big asset for Rovers for many years to come."
OUT went Matt Jansen, Gary Flitcroft and David Thompson.
Mark Hughes told the clubs official website "We are very pleased with the business we have been able to conclude. We were keen to add to our striking options and welcome the opportunity to bring Florent here." (31st January 2006)
bbc.co.uk (transfer news) rovers.co.uk (latest news and reaction UEFA.COM (profile)

1-0 up after 28 seconds - then out of the FA cup in Round 4!
West Ham 4 - Blackburn 2
Despite having the best possible start with a goal from David Bentley after under half a minute - Rovers dominance and possession over the 90 minutes couldn't avoid the disappointment of defeat in the FA Cup.
Bentley had the easiest of tap ins, and things couldn't have started better, but Teddy Sheringham got the home side right back in tit after half an hour from the penalty spot then Matthew Etherington made it two 5 minutes later. Rovers play improved after the break, but Zurab Khizanishvili scored an own goal to make it 3-1 before Lucas Neil scored a beauty on 65 (3-2). But as the lights started to go out around the ground, Rovers chances seemed to dim, and Bobby Zamora sealed things for West ham with their fourth on 72 minutes. The lights recovered, but Blackburn didn't and the season's return trip top Upton Park brought back bad memories of the first league game of the season.
Mark Hughes told rovers.co.uk "We started well enough, the perfect start from our point of view, a goal after thirty seconds, so we think it is possibly going to be our day, but on reflection it probably galvanised West Ham and they responded well to going behind and got back into the game very quickly. I have to say, although we saw a lot of the play, defensively we weren't quite at the level that we usually are, and what we pride ourselves on and in the end that has cost us today."
So back to back defeats and out of both cups in the week. Now the tough test of a Man Utd at Ewood on Wednesday and the chance to 'concentrate on the league' minus Bellamy and Dickov - tough test?
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506 AND FACup0506

Rovers go out of the Carling Cup at Old Trafford
Manchester United 2 - Blackburn 1 (3-2 on aggregate)
Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring for United after just seven minutes - on a night when Rovers were under strength with Craig Bellamy picking up a late injury (training yesterday) and Paul Dickov out with the shoulder injury he picked up at Newcastle. But Blackburn were right back in it on the half hour when Steven Reid managed to pick up a Michael Gray cross to slot home at close range. Just before the break Zurab Khizanishvili was judged to have hand balled - but replays clearly showed he couldn't have avoided the contact - justice was done when the resulting penalty from Ruud van Nistelrooy was brilliantly saved by Brad Friedel. Five minutes into the second half Louis Saha scored to claim a place in the final with United's second and no way back for Blackburn. 3-2 on aggregate and a great run in the competition which will now see an all North West final: Man U v Wigan in Cardiff. (25th January 2006)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506 AND Carling0506

Controversial goal from MGP, and all the points at Newcastle.
Newcastle 0 - Blackburn 1
The goal that separated the two sides was originally credited to Kuqi - then awarded to Pedersen, and now controversially claimed to have gone in off his hand! Rovers should have had an early goal from Paul Dickov - but former Rover Shay Given pulled of a great save. Both Managers felt their team was better on the day, but the points (thankfully) came back to Blackburn.
The serious downside was the loss of Dickov in the second half with what looks like a dislocated shoulder and could be out for several weeks.
Mark Hughes told rovers.co.uk "I'm very happy, I thought on the day we looked the more likely side to win the game. We had a number of clear cut chances in the first half especially, and in the second half we were always in control, we had to withstand a few balls into the box but we stood up well. The second half we really drove well, forced Newcastle to go back towards their own goal and in the end I thought we looked the stronger side."
It's only the second time this season the Newcastle have lost at home. (21st January 2006)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

Thompson off to the JJB
Following the short move down the road to Bolton for Matt Jansen, Blackburn have now released midfielder David Thompson, who's joined other local rivals Wigan Athletic. David's missed plenty of action through a host of injuries, and his opportunities for first team football at Ewoof have been quite limited.
Paul Jewell told BBC Sport "David has shown a real hunger to be involved with the Wigan project, he's a talented lad who can play in a number of positions and he also has an eye for goal. I only believe in bringing players in who add something new to our squad, and in signing David we have done that" (19th January 2006)
AND HE DOES SCORE ON HIS DEBUT FOR WIGAN! (21st January 2006)
bbc.co.uk (full story) rovers.co.uk (reasons)

Physical encounter sees Lancashire derby and in a draw
Blackburn 0 - Bolton 0
Despite going down to ten men, Bolton still managed to hold out for the draw in what sounded like a 'niggly bad tempered affair'. Rovers put the visitors under plenty of pressure, but could'nt break them down, and Bolton had to be at their very best defensivly to keep Blackburn out. Vas Te should have 'stoklen' the points for Sam's men, but seemed to fall over infront of an open goal!
Mark Hughes told BBC Sport "Both sides would agree the referee didn't have his best game, but can't argue about the sending-off. They could have had another player sent off, so they have no argument. We had chances and hit the bar twice, so it's disappointing not to win but I can't fault the players. On another day we could have won it easily." (14th January 2006)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506

Matt moves to the Reebok ...
Within a couple of days of the news that Blackburn had agreed to release Matt Jansen, neighbours Bolton Wanderers have signed the 28 year old striker until the end off the season. The irony won't be lost on Rovers fans, that Matt's first game will be ... against Blackburn on Saturday.
Big Sam told BBC sport "Matt has great potential, even though he hasn't been involved with Blackburn of late, and I do believe he has the right qualities to resurrect his career here at the Reebok. I am looking forward to working with him between now and the end of the season and I hope he can recapture the form that made him one of England's best strikers a couple of seasons ago." (13th January 2006)
bbc.co.uk (full story)

Garry goes - to the Blades
Rovers former captain Garry Flitcroft has left Lancashire for Yorkshire in a free transfer which takes him to Sheffield United. Flitty came to Ewood ten years ago, and was a regular for the first team for much of that time. Under the previous Manager he lost the Captaincy in a much publicised move.
Mark Hughes told rovers.co.uk "Garry has been an excellent servant of the club, a great captain and a great leader on and off the pitch. It has been unfortunate ... that he's not been able to get into the first team as regularly as he would have liked this season. I played alongside him for Rovers and he was a great team-mate. We wish him all the best for the future."
In South Yorkshire Garry will team up with other former Rovers Craig Short and Keith Gillespie. He's signed an 18 month contract and could face Ipswich this weekend. At Blackburn he made almost 300 appearances, but only one Premiership start this season.
Good Luck Garry - and thanks! (12th January 2006)
rovers.co.uk (report) bbc.co.uk (report)

Ped-again - Morten makes it 1-1 in the 1st leg
Blackburn 1 - Man Utd 1
Rovers could/should have scored in the first 30 seconds when Robbie Savage looked certain to claim his first Blackburn goal - but it took 30 minutes for the first name to go on the scoresheet, and that was Louis Saha for Utd. It was 100 mph stuff when MGP brought Rovers right back into the tie with another gem to add to his amazing tally of top class strikes this season. The second half didn't have the energy and pace of the first - but it did produce 4 bookings per side, and Craig Bellamy now looks likely to miss the trip to Newcastle having picked up his 5th yellow. It was also Ewood's buggest gate of the season, with 24,348 attending the game..
Mark Hughes told Radio Rovers "We are reasonably happy with the result, we are still very much in the tie. We had some good opportunities in the first half, we had a bright start, we rattled them initially. United showed great respect to us by playing their strongest side, they knew they would have a difficult day and I think they did. It was a great goal by Morten to get us back in the game, but 1-1 is not a bad result and it is only half-time. We have been to Old Trafford this season and won so there is no reason why we can't do it again." (11th January 2006)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506 AND Carling0506

Rovers release Matt Jansen
Blackburn have announced that following a board meeting (on Tuesday) they have agreed to release striker Matt Jansen. John Williams told the clubs website rovers.co.uk
that "Given Matt's contribution over the years we feel we should not stand in his way. He needs a new challenge and on behalf of everyone connected with the club we wish him well." (11th Jan 2006)
rovers.co.uk (statement)

rovers.co.uk (MATT SAYS THANKS TO THE FANS) (12th January 2006)

Rovers v Sunderland - new date

Sunderland will travel to Ewood Park in February, to play the game that was called off by a frozen pitch at Christmas . The game, which was to have been played on December 28, has now been rescheduled for Wednesday February 15, with an 8pm kick-off.
All tickets from the original fixture are still valid. (10th January 2006)

The FA Cup 4th Round
Rovers draw West Ham away in the next Round
It's an all Premiership tie for Rovers at West Ham ...

The full draw is:

Stoke City/Tamworth v Barnsley/Walsall Cheltenham Town/Chester City v Newcastle United Coventry v Nuneaton Borough/Middlesbrough West Brom/Reading v Torquay/Birmingham Portsmouth v Liverpool Leicester v Southampton Bolton v Arsenal Aston Villa v Port Vale Brentford v Sunderland Manchester City v Wigan/Leeds Millwall/Everton v Chelsea Preston v Crystal Palace West Ham v Blackburn Colchester v Derby Charlton v Leyton Orient Wolves v Burton/Manchester United
Ties will be played on the weekend of the 28/29 January.
HEAR the draw

Bellamy 2 - Todd 1 - Sergio Peter 'Man of the Match'
Rovers 3 - QPR 0

A brace for Craig Bellamy, and an opener from Andy Todd made sure that Blackburn will be in the draw fro the fourth round of this years FA Cup. Brad Friedal only had one important save to make, and despite attempts by QPR to get back into the game, the introduction of former Rovers Gareth Ainsworth was the only time that the Championship side looked likely to make any impact. But the 'Man of the Match' award went to youngster Sergio Peter who was responsible for setting up all three goals. In the reserves, Sergio is the top scorer and he's already been on the bench for the first team, but the FA cup gave him his first start.

Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS "Sergio did okay, he's a confident guy and he looked like he enjoyed himself and played a part in the goals so he's pleased with that. We'll try to keep his feet on the floor because he's a confident young man, but he acquitted himself very well. We are pleased for him, he's been knocking on the door and he got his opportunity today and did very well. He did the right things more often than not, whenever he was in defensive areas he played it nice and simple and in attacking areas he tried to get at people."
rovers.co.uk (reaction) bbc.co.uk (report) goals 0506 AND Tables and Tally 0506 AND FAcup0506

Sutton back in the Premiership - at Birmingham
Half of the World famous Blackburn Rovers 'SAS' - Chris Sutton has returned to England and to the Premiership. Sutton was part of Rovers title winning team in 1994-5 and stayed at Ewood 'till 1999 making 161 appearances and scoring 59 goals. When he signed for Rovers (from Norwich City) it set a record transfer fee for English football. He was only 21 and one of the best paid players of his age group.
Sutty left Rovers for a short spell at Chelsea (the OLD Chelsea) and then made his mark in the SPL at Celtic. In Scotland he scored 86 goals in 199 appearances. Now he's moved to St. Andrews 'on a free' .. and will be under pressure there to try and help Birmingham stay in the top flight.

Sutton told BBC Sport he had no choice but to leave Celtic."It has been very disappointing for me to leave Celtic, but under the circumstances I felt that I had been left with no choice. I had five great years at Celtic under Martin O'Neill. I would like to thank the players and staff for making me and my family so welcome. I'm now looking forward to getting started for Birmingham City." (5th January 2006)

bbc.co.uk (full story)

Matt finish???
After much speculation at the weekend about the future of favourite Matt Jansen, today's papers are now linking the striker with a move to neighbours Bolton or Everton. Matt was quoted in the press as saying that he thought it was time to move on, despite admitting his affection for Rovers. He scored the goal that started Mark Hughes time back at Ewood as Manager (Portsmouth Sept2004) after coming on as sub. But his chances of first team action have been limited although Hughes promised he would give Matt a chance to regain his former form. Fans will be very disappointed if Jani does leave the club, and also owe him a massive dept for the winner at Deepdale that brought Blackburn back into the Premiership.

(WATCH THE VIEDO CLIP OF WINNING GOAL AT PRESTON)
Mark Hughes is quoted as saying "We've got a meeting with Matt and his advisers on Wednesday and I think a decision will be made then. Obviously, we've always tried to do what is best for Matt and if he feels it's time for him to move on then we will look at that situation. But we'll have the meeting and see what happens."
(4th January 2006)

More games LIVE on SKY
Rovers have announced three more games that will be moved to accommodate live TV coverage in 2006 ...
Starting in March, the Spurs game has been moved from Saturday March 4th to Sunday March 5th (16:00), then the following weekend, the home tie with Aston Villa on Saturday March 11th will now kick-off at 17:15. Also moved will be the home game against Wigan Athletic moving from Saturday April 1st to Monday April 3rd (20:00). (3rd January 2006)

NELSEN charged by FA
The FA have charged Ryan Nelsen with "improper conduct" following comments he's alleged have made after the match against Everton in December. According to the BBC the comments related to referee Mark Halsey, and the sending off of Andy Todd for a hand ball offence. Ryan is quoted as saying of the official "He's got a nice track record of sending off Blackburn players, so something might be up." An FA statement said he "implied bias from match officials" and Nelsen has until 17 January to respond the the charge, (3rd December 2006)

bbc.co.uk (full story)

MGP happy at Rovers
Rovers favourite Morten Gamst Pedersen has reacted to press speculation that he might be on the move to Spurs. Morten scored the stunning opener at Wigan, and the free kick that opened Rovers scoring yesterday against Portsmouth. With Blackburn up to 8th in the Premiership he told reporters in Norway "It's positive that clubs are following you as it means you're a good player, but I'm getting on fine at Blackburn, we're starting to build a good team." And of the chance to move to the London Club ... "They are not much better than us if you look at the table." (3rd January 2006)

bbc.co.uk (full story)