Rovers through to Quarter Finals
and SEVEN consecutive wins!
Portsmouth 1 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers made it a seventh victory in all competitions - ironically beating the last team to beat them! The trip to Fratton Park saw goals from Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen, but like at Spurs, suffered further injury worries. This time it was Aaron Mokoena - in for Robbie Savage - who left the game with a suspected broken leg. However rovers.co.uk say that it might be less serious than originally thought. Also taken out of the action was David Bentley - who was still suffering from a knock he picked up at White Hart Lane. Back at the game, it took just ten minutes for Rovers to take the lead, Mokoena setting up Benni McCarthy for a close range opener. Morten Gamst Pedersen put the game beyond Portsmouth with another close range shot with 15 minutes to go. The home side picked up a very late consolation goal when Kanu headed home on 92 minutes.
Mark Hughes told reporters: "I thought Benni McCarthy was absolutely magnificent. I took a lot of pleasure watching him. His retention of the ball and his work in tight areas was a joy to watch. He was always in there looking for scoring chances. He's back where he should be at."
There was a chance too for Berner to start and Derbyshire off the bench. But now with the additional injuries Mark Hughes will have to change things again for the visit of Liverpool on TV this Saturday tea time.
After minor surgery, Robbie Savage could be out for action 'till mid December - but at least Ryan Nelsen was back in action for the cup game, and Reid played 55 minutes in the reserves on Monday Night.
The Quarter final draw takes place on Sat November 3rd, and these are the rest of tonight's results:-
Sheff Utd 0-3 Arsenal ~ Luton 0-1 Everton (aet) ~ Tottenham 2-0 Blackpool ~ Liverpool 2-1 Cardiff ~ Portsmouth 1-2 Blackburn ~ Bolton 0-1 Manchester City ~ Coventry 1-2 West Ham (31st October 2007)
rovers.co.uk (injuriers) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report) ALSO goal0708 AND t&t070 AND carling0708

Sav to miss a month or so
Blow for charismatic midfielder
Reports this morning say that Robbie Savage needs minor surgery and what's being described as a ‘tidying up’ cartilage operation. GOAL.com report that the knee injury at White Hart Lane was caused when Savage and Robbie Keane had a 'collision' ... a scan has now revealed that Sav has suffered damage to his cartilage. He's already had a number of scares since returning from a long term injury last season. With Rovers facing Liverpool and Man U in the next few weeks Mark Hughes will feel frustrated at loosing his talisman at such a key time. South African Aaron Mokoena may well get a chance in his absense.
It's thought that the Welshman will need four weeks to recover from the treatment. Rovers moved up to 5th following their 2-1 win in London - as Liverool could only collect 1 point at home to Arsenal. (30th October 2007)
goal.com

Samba, Samba, Samba!
Tottenham Hotspurs 1 - 2 Blackburn Rovers
Rovers broke Spurs fans hearts as they stole all three points deep into injury time at White hart Lane! In a game that Blackburn never looked likely to win - they came from behind to make it 6 out of 6 and move up to 5th in the Premier League. Against all the good news, there are concerns for Robbie Savage - who had to be taken off with a knee injury. Mark Hughes named an unchanged side from the 11 who started against Reading. Ryan Nelson on the bench, rather than change a winning side. Rovers looked the more likely to open the scoring when David Bentleys shot went past the post - on the outside! Then Brad Friedel was called upon to make a series of world class saves, as Spurs fought back. 0-0 at the interval when the home side could easily have had a two goal advantage.
The second half was only 2 minutes old when Stephen Warnocks foul saw the ref point to the spot . Robbie Keane had no trouble finding the back of the net. Twelve minutes later Blackburn were level, thanks to Benni McCarthy, 1-1. And despite both sides best efforts, that's how it looked likely to end. BUT with seconds of injury time left to play - Roque Santa Cruz passed to Chris Samba who struck a 20 yard screamer to claim his first goal of the season and Rovers winner!
Mark Hughes told BBC Sport: "You're never quite sure what's going to happen when there's a new manager at a club, never quite sure what reaction is of the players and fans will be, so it was a difficult game in that respect. I would have been happy with the draw and then Chris Samba comes up with a fantastic strike. We needed something out of this game and I'm delighted to get three points as we have some tough games coming up."
Rovers had to wait a further hour to get the Liverpool result (at home to Arsenal) - and an 80th minute equaliser for the gunners let Blackburn claim 5th place with 21 points from their first 10 games - and a game in hand. Its their best start since they won the title back in 1994-5.
Next it's Portsmouth away in the cup (Wednesday) before Liverpool at home next Saturday teatime. (28th October 2007)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report) ALSO goal0708 AND t&t070

Spurs new man appointed
Ahead of Rovers Sunday game

The Tottenham Hotspur website have announced the expected appointment of Juande Ramos as their new coach, on the eve of Rovers trip to White Hart Lane. In a statement the club say:
The Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Juande Ramos as Head Coach. The contract period runs until the end of the 2010/11 season. The 53-year-old joins us from Spanish side Sevilla, where he has been the club's most successful manager, lifting back-to-back UEFA Cups, a European Super Cup, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup, as well as guiding the Club into the Champions League for the first time in its history.
Marcos Alvarez also joins the Club's coaching staff. Alvarez worked with Ramos's coaching team at Sevilla. The 36-year-old's association with the Andalusia club began in the 2005/06 season, having previously held coaching roles at Elche and Malaga. We have requested permission from Leeds United to speak to Gus Poyet in order to invite him to join the Club to work with Ramos alongside Alvarez. Juande Ramos and Marcos Alvarez will take the team for Wednesday night's fixture against Blackpool in the Carling Cup 4th Round. They will be guests of the Chairman and the Board for Sunday's League game against Blackburn Rovers. (27th October 2007)
spurs.co.uk (full story)

Samba signs new five year deal
Impressive start - impressive new contract
Rovers have given centre half Chris Samba anew 5 year deal, that will keep him at Ewood till 2012. The clubs official website quote the big defender as saying: "I'm very happy to extend my time at the club and look forward to keep going on with my performances."
Mark Hughes, said: "Chris has made a huge impact in a short time with us and is clearly a young man with a big future. We are delighted to have secured his services for the long term. He knows much hard work lies ahead but we are very confident in his ability to continue to progress."
The DR Congo international has made 13 appearances for Rovers so far this season, and scored twice last term (against West ham and Watford). He told RADIO ROVERS that he's hoping to find the target far more often in the future, and came close against Reading at the weekend. (22nd October 2007)

Rovers keep the wins coming
Blackburn Rovers 4 - 2 Reading
Rovers added another four goals to their season tally with a 4-2 win over Reading. Three came before the break, when they played some of their best football this season. Benni McCarthy opened the scoring after 16 minutes when Roque turned provider and he volleyed in from about 6 yards. Then David Dunn was on hand to provide Santa Cruz with a ball which gave the Rovers striker his 6th of the season. But the goal everyone will keep talking about was another long range piece of Turkish delight from Tugay. He took aim from around 30 yards out and the ball dipped under the bar through the hands of the Reading keeper - wonderful. 3-0 at the interval and you felt there had to be more to come. However credit to the visitors, who came out with a plan to try and get back into the game. They turned on the pressure and were eventually rewarded when sub Kevin Doyle headed home an inswinging corner with 80 minutes on the clock. However just one minute later Sonko brought down sub Matt Derbyshire and McCarthy was on hand to claim his second of the afternoon - this time from the spot. Still the game wasn't over - with less than a minute of normal time left to go - Doyle did it again - this time heading home from the centre of the area. 4-2 and that's how it ended.
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS he was disappointed with the goals they gave away - be delighted with the over all performance and the great result.
"We were excellent today, certainly in that first half when some of our football was the best we've probably played this year. We were really inventive with our play, I thought our passing, our movement and rotation of position caused them a real problem, they didn't really know who was supposed to be marking who, and that is what we have to do, we have to be really dynamic in games."
The result saw Blackburn briefly in 5th place - but ending the day where they started in 6th on goal difference ahead of Chelsea and level on points with Portsmouth. (20th October 2007)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report) ALSO goal0708 AND t&t0708

All Change for the festive season
Rovers get four on SKY and a New Year lie in!
SKY TV have chosen to screen four December games with Rovers in action home and away - the bad news is that yet more Saturday games becomes Sunday - but that might help attendance's. The home game to West Ham will now take place on Sunday 9th at 16:00 - so Saturday Xmas Shoppers will be happy. Also scheduled for TV are Chelsea at home on Sunday December 23rd at 16:10 - Manchester City away on Thursday December 27th at 19:45 - and Derby County away on Sunday December 30th at 13:30. As a result of that last change - Rovers have asked Sunderland for a change to the New Years day game to January 2nd at 20:00 - so no hang overs there then! (12th October 2007)
bbc.co.uk (fixtures list)

Roque stays at home
Star striker gets treatment instead of Internationals
It was expected that Roque Santa Cruz would be flying off to Paraguay - and an appointment with a couple of internationals. But news broke on Tuesday that instead he was due for a scan and 'observation' with club doctor Phil Batty saying: "Roque had been experiencing some discomfort in his knees and the situation worsened during the weekend fixture with Birmingham City. We sent him for a scan which has revealed the tendonitis and, after close liaison with the Paraguay Football Association, it was decided that he should withdraw from the internationals."
But some papers make out that the problem could be more serious - the mirror.co.uk said: "Blackburn are reeling from the news striker Roque Santa Cruz faces six weeks out with tendinitis. The Paraguay FA said: "It is very possible that he will need surgery."
SKY SPORTS NEWS quote John Williams on their site: "Roque didn't have his scan until Monday afternoon and he is still being observed. "We do not know at the moment how long he will be out."
For a more pragmatic views football.co.uk say that Roque has been struggling with this injury for a few weeks now and will rest his knee and ease the pain caused by tendinitis. They have quotes of an interview Santa Cruz did with the radio station Primero de Marzo: "I've been forcing the injury in the last few weeks, playing with injections. "I've reached a point where I had to decide if I should continue, but run the risk of having to stop for two or three months, or if I should stop now and see if the injury gets better. I'm sad not to be there. I don't like having to make a decision like this, but in the long term it means that I should be ready for the national team's games in November." (10th October 2007)
rovers.co.uk ALSO mirror.co.uk AND sky.com ALSO football.co.uk

Rovers make it four wins in four
Blackburn Rovers 2 - 1 Birmingham City
For the second time in 11 days, Rovers beat the Brummies at Ewood Park -this time in the league. A much changes Birmingham City team, met a slightly 'adjusted' Rovers - with Robbie Savage and Morten Gamst Pedersen back in the starting line up. And it was Rovers who had most of the early chances with David Bentley coming close on 10 minutes an then opening the scoring with just 14 mins. on the clock. 1-0 at the break and within 15 seconds it looked like Rovers had made it two. But they had to wait till the 54th minute. Johan Djourou fouled Roque Santa Cruz and from the spot Sub Benni McCarthy (on for David Dunn) made it 2-0. The visitors might feel hard done to after they had a goal from McSheffrey ruled out for off side. However, they got one back after 67" when Cameron Jerome scored from 12 yards out. City kept applying the pressure - but Rovers managed to hang on and create their own chances and secure the 3 points. And for an hour or so they were in 5th place in the Premier League - before Portsmouth won their game to move above them. But they go into the International break in 6th with 15 points from their first 8 games.
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS: "I'm delighted with a huge three points for us. I'm not sure where that takes us, possibly fifth or sixth but it is exactly where we want to be. It is a great start for us and we are doing okay. We struggled a bit initially, maybe that was a consequence of the game against Larissa. But in the second half I thought we really stuck at it and we were good value in the end. I thought we got up to the ball better and a few qualities as well."
Steve Bruce told reporters he thought his side deserved something from the game: Steve Bruce: "The big turning point in the match was the disallowed goal. They put the linesman under enormous pressure here, and he put the flag up. There should to be daylight between the attacker and the last defender. Thirty seconds later it's over."
It was the third 2-1 win in a row! (7th October 2007)
bbc.co.uk (report) AND rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO goal0708 AND t&t0708

Home win not enough - Rovers out of Europe
Blackburn Rovers 2 - 1 Larissa (2-3 agg)
I suppose it's small consolation - but Rovers won at Ewood Park tonight - but that wasn't enough. Going into the second Leg of this UEFA Cup game, they were already 2-0 down to Larissa from the first encounter in Greece. They knew it was as simple as scoring three goals - and conceding none.
Sadly that's where the plan came unstuck. It only took Larissa 16 minutes to ruin things and get themselves an away goal - Cleyton beating Friedel and the defense. From then on it was an uphill struggle - but a penalty awarded to Rovers on the stroke of half time gave them a life line. Matt Derbyshire had his first shot blacked, but their keeper (Kotsolis) was off his line and Derbs had to take it again. This time a goal and the whistle went for the break. The second half was a different game,. Rovers pushing forwards at every opportunity. So it was little surprise when a David Bentley cross gave Stephen Warnock his first goal of the season. 2-1 and ALL to play for - but despite their best efforts - no more goals were forthcoming. So another European adventure comes to an end.

Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS: "Larissa are a decent side, they have pace in good areas, they were always a threat on the break and it was always difficult to over-commit because of that threat in behind. We just needed, when we threw a few guys forward, for something to break for us and then we could have built some momentum and then possibly do it. But good luck to Larissa, they played well over the two legs, but as I said we gave ourselves too much to do. We always knew we could score at least two goals against them but if we hadn't conceded the poor goal that we did then it could have been all set up for a grandstand finish." (4th October 2007)

bbc.co.uk (report) AND rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO goal0708 AND UEFA 0708