MARCH NEWS LINKS 2011
(latest stories at the top)
Blackburn Rovers 2 -
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2 Blackpool |
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More controversy in a game of 'three halves' and a vital point.
JUNIOR HOILETT
This time it was Howard Webb at the centre of a controversial penalty. Even the Blackpool Manager Ian Holloway agreed that his teams first goal was NOT a penalty - but he also questioned other decisions during a lovely Lancashire derby at Ewood Park. The home site were on top for the first quarter and the second half, but the tangerines had two goals ruled out and scored twice in 4 minutes to have a 0-2 half time lead. And it had all started so well with Rovers seeming in charge from the off. Luke Varney looked to have claimed the opening goal only for a very late flag to rule it off side. But only minutes later Ryan Nelsen looked to have caught Taylor-Fletcher with a tackle seconds after the Blackpool man had placed his shot well over the bar. Mr. Webb awarded a bizarre penalty - and Charlie Adam calmly converted. Replays seemed to prove the pen was the wrong decision . Rattled Rovers then gave away a free kick and Adam scored a spectacular second with 25-yard strike. Paul Robison could do nothing. So with half an hour gone Rovers were 0-2 down and looked in trouble. The interval team talk from Steve Kean must have been something special - because just three minutes after the restart Mame Diouf set up Chris Samba to bring it back to 1-2. Blackburn created chance after chance as the pool keeper lived on borrowed time. As 4 minutes of extra time was played out 'Junior' Hoilett who'd just been named 'Man of the Match' headed home from inside the area to claim the well deserved equaliser and a vital point. Blackpool contested the goal claiming keeper Kingson had been fouled.
A relieved Steve Kean told RADIO ROVERS "To be totally honest we were really disappointed to find ourselves 2-0 down because in the first 20 minutes of the first half I thought we were excellent.... for the second game in the row to be on the end of a penalty decision that is normally not given, and then after Charlie Adam's free-kick to find ourselves two goals down we were really disappointed, especially as Blackpool were better than us at the end of the first half. At the break I said to the lads to forget the first half, go out and win the second. Start the second half the way we did in the first, give us a response, and full credit to the lads we showed a great response. We came back and I think we ended up with twenty attempts on goal, we really gave it a go, we dug in and got something out of the game.... The lads never gave up, the kept at it, they kept chipping away and we were worthy of a point."
So Blackburn CAN come from behind and get something! Rovers amazingly emended the day up one place into 13th - while Blackpool fell to 15th. Now there's another break before a trip to The Emirates to play Arsenal on TV on April 2nd.
A relieved Steve Kean told RADIO ROVERS "To be totally honest we were really disappointed to find ourselves 2-0 down because in the first 20 minutes of the first half I thought we were excellent.... for the second game in the row to be on the end of a penalty decision that is normally not given, and then after Charlie Adam's free-kick to find ourselves two goals down we were really disappointed, especially as Blackpool were better than us at the end of the first half. At the break I said to the lads to forget the first half, go out and win the second. Start the second half the way we did in the first, give us a response, and full credit to the lads we showed a great response. We came back and I think we ended up with twenty attempts on goal, we really gave it a go, we dug in and got something out of the game.... The lads never gave up, the kept at it, they kept chipping away and we were worthy of a point."
So Blackburn CAN come from behind and get something! Rovers amazingly emended the day up one place into 13th - while Blackpool fell to 15th. Now there's another break before a trip to The Emirates to play Arsenal on TV on April 2nd.
Fulham 3 -
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2 Blackburn Rovers |
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Controversial penalty & red card spoils the trrip to Fulham
GRANT HANLEY
Mark Clattenburg hit the headlines again after awarding an 89th minute penalty - and the winning goal to Fulham - then after the final whistle the ref showed Gael Givet (who'd already been subbed) a RED card for confronting him apparently about the penalty decision! And the game had been a good one - with Rovers coming from behind twice following an opening from former Rover Damien Duff and a second on the hour mark. The first half had seen Mark Schwarzer kept busy with a range of shots and despite conceding to Duff's first after 37 minutes - Grant Hanley made it 1-1 scoring his first senior goal a minute into injury time. Duff's second came after a hectic second half start - but just five minutes later Jason Roberts set up 'Junior Hoilett' to make it 2-2. And as the clock ran down Rovers looked likely to collect a valuable away point - if not all three. Hanley had had a great game in defense but with a couple of minutes of normal time left to play he was adjudged to foul Aaron Hughes and Mr. Clattenburg pointed to the spot.
On his return from long term injury Bobby Zamora beat Paul Robinson to provide Mark Hughes with an important win at Craven Cottage. It appears that after the final whistle Givet was among a number of players who questioned the penalty decision - he seems to have been shown a red card for his trouble !
Steve Kean told reporters how 'devastated' the team were with the result:-"I thought we had done really well coming back twice in the game. Overall we played well in every single position on the pitch and I was absolutely delighted with the effort and commitment levels. I spoke with Mark Clattenburg [about Fulham's penalty] and asked him to give me his view before I'd seen the images again and he said that Grant Hanley had his hands all over Aaron Hughes. Technically, he is right because his hands were on him, but I told Mark that there is always contact when one player tries to run away from another and that you give a penalty every time there is a corner."
Things are getting tight for Rovers - they remained in 14th place - but with good results for two of the bottom teams - they are now just 2 points outside the relegation zone. And it's two weeks now 'till the next game - the much anticipated derby at Ewood with Blackpool - a MUST win game.
Steve Kean told reporters how 'devastated' the team were with the result:-"I thought we had done really well coming back twice in the game. Overall we played well in every single position on the pitch and I was absolutely delighted with the effort and commitment levels. I spoke with Mark Clattenburg [about Fulham's penalty] and asked him to give me his view before I'd seen the images again and he said that Grant Hanley had his hands all over Aaron Hughes. Technically, he is right because his hands were on him, but I told Mark that there is always contact when one player tries to run away from another and that you give a penalty every time there is a corner."
Things are getting tight for Rovers - they remained in 14th place - but with good results for two of the bottom teams - they are now just 2 points outside the relegation zone. And it's two weeks now 'till the next game - the much anticipated derby at Ewood with Blackpool - a MUST win game.
gjmedia.co.uk
(c) MMXI
(c) MMXI