UNBELIEVABLE!!
Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Manchester City
At 87'00 Blackburn Rovers had a 2-0 lead & were in line to pick up all three points - then City spoiled Christmas!
It had been a great afternoon - with Rovers soaking up anything that City had to offer and claiming a 1-0 half time score with Benni McCarthy finding the back of the net as two minutes of injury time kicked in. Rovers continued to create more chances in the second half - while Man City struggled to get past the back four. Mark Hughes brought on Micah Richards, Daniel Sturridge and Darius Vassell - while Sam Allardyce chose to replace Tugay with Aaron Mokoena & Matt Derbyshire for Benni. On 83'00 minutes 'Man of the Match' Jason Roberts added Rovers second - and it looked to be all over. Sadly it wasn't, firstly sub Sturridge pulled it back to 2-1, and then with four minutes of time added on Robinho ruined all Rovers fans day finding a second for City with the last kick of the match. Unbelievable! The Panto season was alive and well just across the road from the Thwaites Theater!
The draw felt like a loss - despite being Sam's third game in charge a Blackburn going three games undefeated. Sam told RADIO ROVERS he was shell-shocked; "I feel like I've had all my Christmas presents taken from the bottom of the tree on Christmas morning. With the position that we are in it is so cruel to be left where we are in the league table but it is a fact of life now and we have to accept it.... Generally in the course of the three games we have now thrown away at least two points, probably four, and I thought that those three points were going to come here today and put us on a level playing field almost with some of the people slightly above us. But instead we've still got that distance between us, which takes another win as long as they lose, just to get back in amongst it, and that is the big challenge now."
The result sees Rovers end 2008 second bottom - with 18 points from their first 20 games. West Brom won earlier and for a while sent Blackburn bottom ... The New Year starts away in the FA Cup at Blyth Spartans on January 5th. (28t December 2008)

FROM gjmedia.co.uk - A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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STADIUM OF HALF LIGHT
Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Rovers returned from the North East with an important point - but should have had all three. Sam Allardyce's first away game as Rovers manager saw Blackburn boss the second half - with the home side dictating much of the first period. The best chance of the game for Rovers came in added time when Jason Roberts found himself facing an open goal - managed to put his shot wide! Keith Andrews had had his chance saved, Morten Gamst Pedersen found his excellent shot palmed on to the woodwork by an inform Sunderland keeper. Chris Samba had the ball in the back of the net after connecting with a David Dunn free kick, but Sunderland protested that Samba's arm had helped the ball in! the big defender was booked and the goal disallowed. But apart from dropping two points, Blackburn will also be concerned that they lost the services for David Dunn, who went off after an hour and straight down the tunnel with what looked like another muscular injury.
The Manager told Sky Sports News:- "David unfortunately pulled his hamstring and he looks set to miss three or four weeks which is very disappointing. He has just got back from an Achilles problem and I think fatigue may have been a problem and we are all very disappointed for him." And the boss revealed that captain Ryan Nelsen also collected an injury ..."Ryan Nelsen has a very bad eye injury and it is shut at the minute. We will give it time to get the swelling down and we will wait and see what it is like tomorrow."
On the positive side - two games under Big Sam and the goals conceded column reads NIL!
Sam Allardyce commenting on Roberts missed opportunity told reporters:- "It's a golden chance to miss. We are all a little disappointed but things like that happen. It just got a bobble on it and hit him on the shin instead of the side of the foot and went wide of the post. But at the end of the day, it's four points our of six, it's another clean sheet, it's the basis of good things to help us get out of the position we are in."
Andre Ooijer picked up a yellow & will now miss Rovers FA cup match on Januray 5th.
Other results didn't help Rovers cause with Stoke dropping into the bottom three as Manchester City put five past Hull to move up to 15th place. And of course it's City who visit Ewood on Sunday - with the return of Mark Hughes. (26th December 2008)
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McDONALD ASSISTANT TO SAM
Boss moves quickly to establish his team.
The moves at Ewood Park (and Brockhall) continued today with news that Sam Allardyce will have Neil McDonald as his assistant at Blackburn Rovers. Neil joins from Leeds United - but has a long history in football management. As a player he'll be remembered for his time with Newcastle, Everton, Oldham, Bolton and Preston North End. He worked with Sam at Bolton before heading to Carlisle United and then Swedish club Ostersunds. The news also sees the end of their time at Rovers for Ray Mathias and Archie Knox - who came to the club with Paul Ince ... However Karl Robinson will stay as will former Rovers favourite Bobby Mimms.
The Press Conference to formerly introduce Sam Allardyce will take place at 16:00 GMT this afternoon. And you can hear highlights this Saturday on RADIO ROVERS, plus of course all the news from a massive week at the club.
RADIO ROVERS is on air from 11:00 GMT Saturday 20th December 2008 - tune in on 1404 am (in Blackburn) or log on via rovers.co.uk to listen to the full days coverage. (18th December 2008)
rovers.co.uk (Neil McDonald)

SAM'S YOUR MAN
Sam Allardyce to be next Blackburn Rovers Manager
As expected, former Bolton Manager 'Big' Sam Allardyce is to be the next Manager at Blackburn Rovers. John Williams told reporters yesterday that he hoped to make a quick appointment - in time for the next match at home to Stoke City on Saturday. Sam left Bolton for a spell in the North East at Newcastle United before leaving there in January of this year. Rovers have offered him a three year contract, and he takes up the post with "immediate effect." In a short statement the club say "Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager"
There will be a press conference at Ewood Park at 16:00 hrs Thursday 18th December 2008.

His managment history dates back to the early 90's :-
1991–1992 - Limerick
1994–1996 - Blackpool
1997–1999 - Notts County
1999–2007 - Bolton Wanderers
2007–2008 - Newcastle United
2008 - Blackburn Rovers
Full Biography ALSO rovers.co.uk ALSO bbc.co.uk

BLYTH SPARTONS

Blyth Spartons will play Blackburn Rovers
Blyth Spartans 1-0 Bournemouth
Blackburn Rovers new manager has a trip to the North East to look forward to - top start 2009. In their replay the Conference North Side scored the winning goal in the 90th minute to know out League 2 Bournemouth. The sounth coast side had already had a man sent off - and Blyth sub Jed Dalton scored to nset up the tie with Rovers with just moments to go. The match has already be chosen for TV coverage on Monday January 5th. (16th December 2008)
bbc.co.uk (match report)

INCE OUT
Rovers part company with Manager
In a statement on the clubs official website - Blackburn Rovers have decided to part company with Paul Ince. The run of results since September probably left little alternative, with the board keen not to be cut adrift in he bottom three.
John Williams says:- "Three wins in 17 games has seen a squad, which finished seventh last season, fall to 19th position. We are currently in real danger of becoming detached from the pack. The survival of the club in the Premier League is paramount and our focus now is on finding a replacement who will be able to maintain our top division status. Paul will bounce back, he is a fighter and we wish him well."
Paul told SKY NEWS that although he's obviously disappointed with the news - he doesn't leave the club with any bad feeling. On his appointment Ince was given special dispensation to get his coaching certificates. He had just 6 months in charge at Rovers - his first job at the top level of English football.
Greame Souness is favourite with the bookies - with Alan Curbishley and Sam Allardyce just behind. There's no news yet of who'll take over for the next game at home to Stoke at Ewood Park. (16th December 2008)
UPDATE Ray Mathias and Archie Knox in Charge for the game with Stoke City (15:30hrs)
UPDATE John Williams:- "We will endeavour to have a new manager in place for Saturday's game with Stoke City. But there are no guarantees and we must ensure that we get the right man." (16:30hrs)
UPDATE Sky Sports news say that Souness, Allardyce and Curbishley have NOT had talks with Blackburn. However they also believe that a new man could be in post by Saturday (22:00hrs)

rovers.co.uk ALSO bbc.co.uk

A WEEKS A LONG TIME IN FOOTBALL
Could these be Paul Ince's last few days at Rovers?
Following Saturdays disappointment at Wigan, the Sunday papers were full of gossip all aimed at a change at the top for Blackburn Rovers. The Manager himself acknowledged the fans frustration, and admitting that he and the players had let them down. For some weeks the name of former Bolton and Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce seemed top of the list if Ince was to go .. but at least one paper now claims he's ruled himself out of a move to Ewood .. but he'd like to talk to Sunderland. However former Rovers boss Greame Souness has now emerged as the man who could make a surprise return. Mirror.co.uk say that Greame is now the 'firm favourite'. The paper says:- "Souness is now the leading candidate although the former Rovers boss would have to come on a short-term basis and with a new-look backroom staff to last time, which will include fans’ favourite, midfielder Tugay."
The Sun say that most of the first team traveled to Dublin for a mini-break after the defeat at Wigan. Morten Gamst Pedersen told reporters:- “It’s not easy to talk after a game like that. There aren’t really words to sum it up. The manager spoke to us but what he said has to stay in the dressing room. But all the players have their heads down, they are really low.”
Watch this space ... Not really a season of good will to ALL men! (15th December 2008)
thesun.co.uk ALSO mirror.co.uk AND soccernet

ANOTHER THREE AT THE JJB
Wigan Athletic 3-0 Blackburn Rovers
The traveling faithful were hopeful that today might see the reversal in fortunes that Blackburn so much needed. Sadly they didn't have to wait too long to see that it would be another pointless afternoon. After just 9 minutes Emile Heskey provided the home side with their first at close range - then two minutes later Antonio Valencia also found the back of the net. There must have been a mass feeling of déjà vu - Paul Ince had stayed loyal to last weeks starting eleven who faced Liverpool - but again it all seemed too easy to find the back of the Blackburn net. Ince tried shuffling his pack after the break, and it was good to see Dunny back in action - but when Lee Cattermole made it 3-0 it was all over bar he shouting. That came from unhappy Rovers fans as they left the ground to make a quick exit. The Manager's future again came under the spotlight and he told reporters:- "It doesn't matter about Paul Ince, it matters about these players. What will be will be. I'm disappointed for my players and the fans who have come in abundance and we've let them down, we'll have to take stock and start again on Monday. I don't care who's in charge, me or Alex Ferguson, giving away a two goal start will always be trouble."
Next Saturday the Christmas Fixtures start at Ewood with the visit of Stoke City - now a must win game. (13th December 2008)
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MUCH BETTER - BUT NO CIGAR!
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Liverpool
The scoreline just doesn't tell the story. Paul Ince asked his team to come out and work together and that's just what they did. A far more coordinated performance should have been rewarded with a first half goal when Pepe Reina just stopped Morten Gamst Pedersen from being a hero. His 30 yard power shot was about to find the top left of the net - but instead Reina got a hand to it. Stephen Warnock help keep out a Liverpool attack and Rovers went in at 0-0 feeling that the day could still be theirs. Just short of 70 minutes the deadlock was broken when Xabi Alonso beat Paul Robisnon from just inside the area. And things got worse when Yossi Benayoun made it two to the visitors ten minutes later. But to Rovers credit - they kept looking for a reply - Roque Santa Cruz headed home on 85 minutes and Blackburn felt they were well back in the game. They continued to look for a second which would have secured at least a point - but with four minutes of injury time already played it was Steven Gerrard who scored the last goal of the day. Most fans saw the improvement as very positive - and hope that Rovers can now take that performance to Wigan next week and bring home all three points!
Paul Ince told reporters: "It was an exceptional performance. We have not got the three points but we have to take some positives from the game. It is always difficult against Liverpool but we matched them for long spells and that was pleasing. The scoreline was harsh and this might be the step we need to push on and get up the table." (6th December 2008)
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EIGHT GOAL THRILLER
ROVERS GO OUT OF THE CUP
Manchester United 5-3 Blackburn Rovers
Carlos Tevez claimed four for United - Benni McCarthy two for Rovers ... The scoreline doesn't tell the tail of a game that saw the visitors have a first half that could have seen them at least two up! After weathering a little early Man U pressure, Blackburn were into their stride and kept testing Foster - the young United keeper. But on 34 minutes Ryan Giggs took a free kick, and Tevez headed home his first of the night. Just five minutes later Luis Nani made it 2-0. Rovers should have been well out of it - but at half time Paul Ince brought on Benni McCarthy to play along side Roque Santa Cruz, and after just two minutes he's scored his first to make it 2-1. Rovers were still celebrating their partial recovery when Andre Ooijer fouled Tevez and the striker scored again from the spot. Five minutes later and Tevez was there again and United had a 4-1 lead ... but still Blackburn tried to stay in the game. Next up with just seven minutes to go was Matt Derbyshire, and there was still belief that perhaps a late rally could force extra time. With 92 minutes on the watch Derbs shot across the box and McCarthy was there to tap in Blackburns third of the tie. 4-3 and still two minutes to play ... but sadly the final say went to Carlos Tevez - who claimed him fourth and send United into the semi finals.
Blackburn certainly never allowed Man U to have all the say - but left themselves with far too much to do - and too many goals conceded yet again. (3rd December 2008)
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