ALL THE FINAL DAYS GOALS
AS THEY WENT IN:--
This is the way the afternoon unfolded for the Premier Leagues' 20 teams

West Ham 1 (Nolberto Solano 8) Aston Villa 0 ~ West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1 (Ashley Young 14) ~ Derby 0 Reading 1 (James Harper 15) ~ Richard Dunne, Man City 15 sent off ~ Middlesbrough 1 (Stewart Downing Pen 16) Man City 0 ~ Sunderland 0 Arsenal 1 (Theo Walcott 24) ~ Everton 1 (Ayegbeni Yakubu 28) Newcastle 0 ~ Birmingham 1 (David Murphy 31) Blackburn 0 ~ Wigan 0 Man Utd 1 (Cristiano Ronaldo Pen 33) ~ Middlesbrough 2 (Afonso Alves 37) Man City 0 ~ Birmingham 1 Blackburn 1 (Morten Gamst Pedersen 49) ~ Everton 1 Newcastle 1 (Michael Owen Pen 47) ~ West Ham 1 Aston Villa 2 (Gareth Barry 58) ~ Middlesbrough 3 (Stewart Downing 58) Man City 0 ~ Derby 0 Reading 2 (Dave Kitson 61) ~ Middlesbrough 4 (Afonso Alves 60) Man City 0 ~ Chelsea 1 (Andriy Shevchenko 62) Bolton 0 ~ Derby 0 Reading 3 (Kevin Doyle 69) ~ Tottenham 0 Liverpool 1 (Andriy Voronin 69) ~ Everton 2 (Joleon Lescott 70) Newcastle 1 ~ Middlesbrough 5 (Adam Johnson 70) Man City 0 ~ Birmingham 2 (Cameron Jerome 73) Blackburn 1 ~ Tottenham 0 Liverpool 2 (Fernando Torres 74) ~ Portsmouth 0 Fulham 1 (Danny Murphy 76) ~ Middlesbrough 6 (Fabio Rochemback 80) Man City 0 ~ Wigan 0 Man Utd 2 (Ryan Giggs 80) ~ Everton 3 (Ayegbeni Yakubu Pen 82) Newcastle 1 ~ Middlesbrough 7 (Jeremie Aliadiere 85) Man City 0 ~ Middlesbrough 7 Man City 1 (Blumer Elano 87) ~ West Ham 2 (Dean Ashton 88) Aston Villa 2 ~ Birmingham 3 (Cameron Jerome 89) Blackburn 1 ~ Derby 0 Reading 4 (Leroy Lita 90) ~ Birmingham 4 (Fabrice Muamba 90) Blackburn 1 ~ Chelsea 1 Bolton 1 (Kevin Davies 90) ~ Wigan 0 Man Utd 2 (Ryan Giggs 80)
(11th May 2008)

ROVERS (store) RETURN
Club shop is back!
Fans will be delighted to hear that after four years - Sports World will no longer run the former "Rovers the Moon" club shop. The clubs official website (rovers.co.uk) report that Blackburn Rovers will regain control, and once again supply previously popular lines for the fans. MD Tom Finn told the site "I am sure this news will be welcomed by our supporters as it will provide us with the opportunity to reintroduce a range of club-branded products within our retail operation" He points out that this won't be an overnight change - and asks fans to be patient - as the store will close for some time during the Summer for refurbishment. The existing on-line service will also be suspended while it also gets a make over.
Welcome back RoversStore! (10th may 2008)
rovers.co.uk

TRIO GET NEW DEALS AT EWOOD
Derbs, Warnock and Olsson
Just 24 hours after the final home game of the season, Rovers have announced that three more players have agreed new terms. And for Matt Derbyshire, Stephen Warnock and Martin Olsson - the new contracts will see them here 'till the summer of 2012.
Warnock told rovers.co.uk It's fantastic, I just think the club offering me a new deal is a reward for what I've been doing and obviously I've been doing something right.". Young left back Olsson is quoted as saying "I'm very happy to have signed a new deal, it is what I've been working hard for, to get a contract with the first team". And the site say that local hero Matt Derbyshire is 'ecstatic' with the new deal.
He joined all his other colleagues for a 'lap of honour' after Saturdays game at Ewood, and had a new baby in each arm. Matt became a Father of twins this spring - and it looked like a full 'Parade of the Pops' as Veterans like Tugay brought out his older off springs - and the very youngest babies were also on show for some of the younger dads. (5th May 2008)
rovers.co.uk ALSO bbc.co.uk

GREAT END TO THE HOME SEASON
AND ROVERS MOVE UP TO 7th
Blackburn Rovers 3 - 1 Derby County
The final home game of the season saw three former Rovers return to Ewood with Derby County. Jay McEveley, Andy Todd and Robbie Savage all started for the relegated Rams - and despite their lowly position - they certainly wanted to make a game of it. And is was Kenny Miller who gave the visitors the lead after just 18 minutes. Their traveling faithful went wild in the Darwen end - and a real carnival atmosphere added to their enthusiasm. Rovers didn't seem at their best and as the first half minutes timed out - they were still looking for the equaliser. It came from Player of the year Roque Santa Cruz, with 57 seconds of first half injury time already on the clock. 1-1 at the break, and no doubt some words said in the dressing room! Whatever the manager had to say worked, because just 1 minute into the second half, Jason Roberts found the target to give Rovers the lead. From now on it was largely one way traffic. Another chance fell Roberts way, Ryan Nelson almost scored his first, and Roy Carroll seemed under increasing pressure. The decisive goal came with 15 minutes to go, when Roque headed home a David Bentley cross.
Uriah Rennie managed to keep his cards in his pocket - and even Robbie Savage managed to avoid a Yellow!
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS " We handed them the goal with a bit of a lapse, so we had to regroup, we are one of the best teams in this division at coming behind, so the goal just before half-time helped us in that respect. Thankfully in the second half the players listened a little bit better and we were better as a consequence. There was a lot more drive, a lot more purpose to our play and in the end we won the game quite comfortably. We started to open them up towards the end of the game which I suspected would happen, I think Jason Roberts had a number of opportunities but the 'keeper stood up well to him, so we created some good chances and on another day we probably would have gone away from Derby a little bit sooner than we did."
But it was results elsewhere that put the icing on this cake. Aston Villa lost at home to Wigan, and Porstmouth lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough. So with 1 game to play (at Birmingham) Rovers moved up to 7th with 58 points. The Intertoto is still on!!
ALSO Congratulations to Tugay for winning "Goal for the season" - his great volley v Reading chosen as the outstanding one. (May 3rd 2008)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report & VIDEO interview) PLUS goals0708 AND t&t070

ROVERS CRUZ BACK TO 8th
Portsmouth 0 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
Mark Hughes said a win was the only option ... so he'd have been disappointed with the first half at Fratton Park. Last time Rovers visited Portsmouth, it was last October in the Carling Cup. They did the business then - beating Harry's boys 2-1 - and with hopes still for Europe, a goal was desperately needed in the second half of this game. When it came its was top scorer Roque Santa Cruz who connected with a pass from Jason Roberts in the 74th Minute. That was his 21st of the season, and makes him top Premier League scorer away from home. Pompey didn't give up, and there were a few concerned moments very late on when Brad Friedel seemed to be caught out and a succession of corners made it a very tense finish. But the boys held out and the Rovers boss was delighted with the result.
He told reporters:- "We didn't force the issue too much in the first half and just needed to up it 10-15% in second half which we were able to do. We got a great goal with the interplay between our two frontmen and it was finished well be Roque. Roque has had an outstanding season for his first in the Premier League." And the Rovers Managers believes the 1-0 win at Portsmouth keeps their chances of qualifying for Europe via the Intertoto Cup alive. The result saw Rovers return to 8th on goal difference over Manchester City, who yesterday went from 2-0 up to losing 3-2 to Fulham at home. Next Saturday they're at home to Derby County for the final home fixture and then away at Birmingham City. (27th April 2008)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report) bbc.co.uk (BBC INTERVIEW in Vision) PLUS goals0708 AND t&t0708

THREE MORE YEARS FOR BENNI
Rovers striker agrees to new deal
Last season Benni McCarthy set the Premier League on fire with his 18 league goals, 3 more in Europe and a further 3 in the FA Cup. It's been a leaner time for the striker this term but he's still second top league scorer - behind top man Roque Santa Cruz. Mark Hughes has always believed in the South African, and today the club confirmed that Benni has signed a new contract. rovers.co.uk say that he's now committed his future to Ewood until 2011, and BBC sport credit him with 35 goals in 87 games since he came from Porto in the Summer of 2006 for £2.5m.
Still no news on new coontracts for David Bentley, Stephen Warnock or Morten Gamst Pedersen. With just three games left to play, Mark Hughes might well be waiting on the end of the season standings before completing more deals. He's already said that he wants to hold on to all his best players , and hopes to go shopping this summer to strengthen his squad. (25th April 2008)
bbc.co.uk AND rovers.co.uk

ROVERS ALMOST ROQUE-D UNITED!
Blackburn Rovers 1 -1 Manchester United
Ewood Park was full to capacity for a pulsating 90 minutes of football - as Rovers came just minutes from taking all three points off Manchester United. It took 20 minutes for Roque Santa Cruz to score the opener and his 20th goal for the club. David Bentley had a long range screamer that could have made it 2, and Morten Gamst Pedersen provided another wonderful chance. But the final quarter was all United. Brad Friedel (Man of the Match) made some exceptional saves - as the Champions pushed forward time after time looking for the equaliser. When it came there were just 2 minutes left of normal time, and even then (with 4 minutes added on) there could have been more goals. Carlos Tevez keeping the Red's on track to retain the title. Both teams had penalty calls turned down, but the 1-1 result was probably a fair reflection. It would certainly have been unfair to Rovers if they'd had all the points taken off them.
Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS:- We put in a huge effort and it would have been nice to have been able to achieve the three points but it wasn't to be," said boss Mark Hughes on Radio Rovers after the game. We aren't the only side that United have come back at the death against so we can't beat ourselves up too much because I thought the performance was really exceptional today, I thought each and everyone of them stood up to be counted."
The result saw Rovers move back to 8th on goal difference - just ahead of Manchester City - with three games to go. (19th April 2008)
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report) PLUS goals0708 AND t&t0708

RADIO ROVERS - FROM THE ARCHIVES
Last two home games broadcast gems
Back in 1993 - the former Manchester United Irish International Kevin Moran was ending his playing career at a resurgent Blackburn Rovers. Jack Walker's investment was about to bring the glory days back to Ewood Park - and RADIO ROVERS was broadcasting as the UK's first ever football club station. This Saturday - when Manchester United come to town, a rare archive gem - Kevin's "Rhythms of the Blues" from that season - can be heard again for the first time. Amongst other memories - he'll reveal that he never intended to stay in England at all - and that the trip over from Ireland was supposed to be temporary!!! With a 17:15 kick off, the programme can be hear around 15:30 BST - on 1404 kHz AM in Blackburn, and world wide via rovers.co.uk (subscription service).

And that's not all .... Wendy Howard who must have interviewed all the Rovers players over the next few years, can also be heard talking in 1994 to the young Alan Shearer - already a star in the making! His "Rhythms" will be broadcast during the build up to the final home game of the season against Derby County on Saturday May 3rd at 13:30 BST.

So - two great programmes not to be missed on RADIO ROVERS:-
Kevin Moran - 1993 - at 15:30 BST - Saturday 19th April 2008
Alan Shearer - 1994 - at 13:30 BST - Saturday 3rd May 2008

(16th April 2008)

JUST A CONSOLATION GOAL FOR SANTA
Liverpool 3 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
It was never going to be an easy game for Rovers - but the trip to Anfield saw them concede three from a team given far too many chances. After a first half where Blackburn seemed to have weathered the storm - 0-0 looked good. In fact Jason Roberts believes they should have had a 1-0 lead, and that his early 'goal' should NOT have been ruled off-side. - he was sure that the shot should have stood - with a great finish! After the break, both sides had penalty decisions turned down, Alan Wiley seemed keen to keep his cards in his pocket. When the two teams met at Ewood Park there were no yellows issued and today only Liverpool's Skrtel saw one. But after their remarkable win over Arsenal in the Champions League - Liverpool weren't going to be put off by the odd decision. First on the hour mark Steven Gerrard scored from close range, then it was the turn of Fernando Torres with just ten minutes to go. As 90 minutes approached Andriy Voronin claimed their third, and it looked all over. Roberts felt aggrieved again when he felt sure he'd been brought down in he box - Not given. But there was still time for a quick volley from Roque Santa Cruz to claim his 15th league goal of the season.

Mark Hughes told reporters:- "We are disappointed with the goals we conceded. We were victims of over-playing. "Our downfall was misplaced passes in dangerous areas. Liverpool have some quality players and they were able to pick us off. The first goal was key. We should not have conceded two more but Liverpool probably deserved the win."
With Manchester United next (at Ewood Park) on Saturday - Rovers' chances of making the Intertoto seem to be slipping away. They stay 9th - but have only 4 games left - two at home and two away. (13th April 2008)
bbc.co.uk (report) PLUS goals0708 AND t&t0708

ROVERS COME FROM BEHIND TO BAG A POINT
Blackburn Rovers 1- 1 Tottenham
It didn't look good for Rovers when Spurs took an early lead after just 6 minutes through Berbatov. The visitors must have decided to make up for their 4-1 loss to Newcastle, and from the start they were on the attack Blackburn were certainly not at their best and for the first half hour it looked like being a bad day at the office. But then a great cross from David Bentley found Morten Gamst Pedersen in the centre of the box, and ready to drill home from 12 yards out. 1-1 and there were hopes of more to come ... but the half ended with more chances, but not much of a threat and Mark Hughes must have warned his squad to beware of a similar start in the second half. This time Blackburn created the chances with Roberts and Bentley - and when the England International ran into the area only to be blocked by Gilberto - it looked a cast iron penalty. None was given and both sides had to settle for a point. Mark Hughes told RADIO ROVERS that the penalty decision could have changed the game:- "I'm a bit frustrated that we didn't get the penalty in the second half, it was the key decision and in fairness should have been given but it wasn't so we are disappointed with that. But I thought it was a decent Premier League game between two evenly matched teams. Given the investment that Spurs have put into their team I think that shows where we are and how well we have done against them. We've taken four points off a Spurs team that has good talent and you saw that from some of them today.... I was pleased with how we performed, certainly after that nervous start .... it was probably a fair result"
Rovers remain unbeaten this year at Ewood - but drop a place to 8th following a 4-0 win by Aston Villa over Bolton. Next Sunday it's Liverpool away with a 1:30 kick off - then Manchester united at home for a tea time TV game.
rovers.co.uk (reaction) ALSO bbc.co.uk (report) PLUS goals0708 AND t&t0708