ROVERS DOMINATE - BUT GET JUST A POINT
Keith Andrews claims important equaliser
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 West Ham United
The stats show Rovers ahead for 'goal on target' by a dramatic 12 to 2 ratio ... 7-1 ahead on corners ... but on a vastly entertaining afternoon they still couldn't claim all three points. Blackburn started the sharpest with El Hadji Diouf putting the ball in the back of the net - but ruled out for off side. He was to do the same again in part two ... but again the flag would say 'no goal'. Rovers seemed to have West Ham pinned back when against the run of play Mark Noble threaded through a lovely goal to give the Hammers a 34th minute lead. Initially Rovers looked deflated, but they were soon back battering away at the West Ham defense but still went in 0-1 down at the interval. When the injured Andre Ooijer was replace for the second half by Keith Andrews, it only took a few minutes for the Irishman to claim his first home Rovers goal. With 50 minutes on the clock there looked to be plenty of time for Blackburn to go on and win the game - but whatever they tried West Ham seemed to find an answer. Paul Robinson was very largely a spectator - and Captain Ryan Nelsen went on to be named 'man of the match'. Manager Sam Allardyce told RADIO ROVERS that he was very happy with their performance ... "I think that I have a tremendously disappointed group of players and staff in the dressing room" he said. "I think that it was a great performance." And the Manager was convinced that Nobles goal should have been ruled out for off-side ... "I think that in the first half we were very unfortunate to come in one-nil down as we knew at half-time that their goal wFas an offside goal as Boa Morte was offside when the ball was played through. The assistant referee was in the correct position not to miss it and has."
Big Sam couldn't fault his boys ..."What can I say to the players today apart from lads I can't believe how unlucky you've been today, I can't believe that you haven't won this game. But you've got to keep the belief that performances like this will win you more than you'll draw."
Amazingly the afternoon saw Manchester United loose 2-0 at Fulham - and finish with 9 men! Spurs beat Chelsea 1-0, and Porstmouth came from behind to get a vital 2-1 win over Everton. Rovers could have ended the day back in the drop zone - but despite scoring first, Newcastle lost at home to Arsenal 1-3. So Blackburn remain 2 points ahead of the bottom three - but fall to 17th place with Internationals duty ahead for many of the players. Next will be Spurs live on Sky on April 4th at Ewood Park. The danger of the drop is still very much a possibility. (March 21st 2009)
bbc.co.uk (full report) ALSO rovers.co.uk (reaction) PLUS goals0809 + t&t0809

NO LONDON JOY THIS TIME - ARSENAL DO IT AGAIN!
Rovers little run comes to a dramatic end
Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn Rovers
Just like the midweek trip to Fulham - Rovers were behind again in the first two minutes at the Emirates Stadium. Unlike Craven Cottage - a depleted Blackburn side had no Ryan Nelsen and lost Stephen Warnock and Gael Givet to injury. It only took Andrey Arshavin 74 seconds to score his first ever Gunners goal ... Dunny was on for Givet within the first quarter of an hour. Rovers struggled to create many chances and it was no real surprise when Arshavin made it 2-0 just after the hour. Stephen Warnock had to be replaced by Martin Olsson and Benni McCarthy added more fire power. Blackburn struggled to hang on to the ball, and Paul Robinson was called on to make some important saves. With just 3 minutes left to play the home side did beat the Blackburn keeper to make it 3-0 when Emmanuel Eboue put the ball in the top right hand corner. Then with the 90 minutes already up a late Martin Olsen challenge on Vela saw Eboue claim his second as he scored from the penalty spot. The same score line as at Ewood Park last September, and that win at Fulham all that more important.
Had Liverpool not already beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford 1-4 the game might have claimed some headlines! But below Blackburn Middlesbrough & Portsmouth could only get a 1-1 draw and a point a piece. Hull and Newcastle also shared the points with the same scoreline. Stoke lost 3-1 to Everton. It could have been a far worse afternoon. That saw Rovers stay outside the bottom three, but the goal difference took a bit of a battering! (March 14th 2009)
bbc.co.uk (full report) ALSO rovers.co.uk(min-by-min) PLUS goals0809 + t&t0809

NEW START FOR JANSEN
Matt impresses on Wrexham debut
Former Rovers favourite Matt Jansen has played his first competitive game for some time, and made an impressive debut for Wrexham. Dean Saunders has taken Matt on at the club, and told the BBC "He wants to come and get back to enjoying playing football again - he has not been enjoying it." Jansen had been training again with Rovers in the hope that he might be able to play again at the age of 31. He trained at Brockhall for a few months - but ended the arrangement when Big Sam took over as manager. Matt's career came to a shuddering halt following a near fatal motorcycle accident in 2002. He was on the verge of joining the England squad and a regular in the Blackburn first team. Wrexham drew 1-1 with Woking and Jansen saw out the first half and part of the second.
You can hear a full interview with the player on the BBC Sports website (see link below). We wish him the very best of luck (March 12th 2009)
bbc.co.uk (full report on Wrexham signing) PLUS bbc.co.uk (Report & interview with Matt Jansen)

MASSIVE THREE POINTS AT CRAVEN COTTAGE
Rovers come from behind to win game in hand
Fulham 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
What a BIG three points for Blackburn! And it couldn't have started any worse - with Rovers falling behind within the first two minutes at Craven Cottage. A long ball in from Murphy found Clinton Dempsey who beat the returning Paul Robinson on just 90 second. And It was very much the home side who continued to dominate the first half - but perhaps the sign of things to come. Stephen Warnock found the woodwork from 20 yards out and he was to test Mark Schwarzer again in the second half. It had started 4-5-1 with Jason Roberts the single striker. But part two was a whole different ball game! Benni McCarthy on for Andrews and the match was all about the visitors. A debut goal for El Hadji Diouf (set up by Chris Samba) gave Rovers the equaliser they so deserved ... and again Schwarzer had more big saves to make. With the cottagers clearly unsettled it was really no surprise when Morten Gamst Pedersen delivered a ball to Jason Roberts who beat the Fulham keeper to score what was to be the winner with just five minutes left of normal time.
Rovers moved up to 15th - with their game in hand their 7th win of the season. Rovers return to London on Saturday to meet Arsenal - who lost to Roma in the Champions league 1-0 on the night but drew 1-1 on aggregate. So they then had a very long night with extra time and penalties which saw them through 7-6! They might be tired at rthe weekend!! (March 10th 2009)
bbc.co.uk (full report) ALSO rovers.co.uk(min-by-min) PLUS goals0809 + t&t0809

ALL SQUARE - POINTS SHARED
Rovers add a point - but fall back into the bottom three
Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Everton
It was probably never going to be a classic - but Everton in the top six playing Rovers well into the bottom six should have shown a gulf in class - and didn't. Chances were rare for both sides, and neither keeper were really tested. Jason Brown played the full 90 minutes with Paul Robinson out injured - but he too had problems towards the end with Warnock needed to take a few goal kicks. Just before the break he made a wonderful save & had very little else to do. Rovers did have chances - Roque shooting wide, Jason Roberts missing his chance and Stephen Warnock almost placing a free kick in the net - it hit the cross bar. Talking post match to RADIO ROVERS Big Sam "I think the lads put in a tremendous effort in, in the first half it was difficult to break down a very good Everton side, but in the second half we dominated and the chances came but we didn't convert one." Having played on Sunday at Hull the boss conceded that two games in 4 days was a tough ask. Other results did NOT go Rovers way, with wins for Stoke and Hull City ... So after a busy 10 days they find themselves back in the bottom three if only by a point. Next Wednesday it's the rearranged away tie at Fulham (who lost tonight at home to Hull). It's now a free weekend with no cup action for the team. (March 4th 2009)
bbc.co.uk (full report + interview) ALSO rovers.co.uk(reaction) PLUS goals0809 + t&t0809

TO HULL and BACK!!
10 man Rovers collect 3 VITAL points
Hull City 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Two goals in 2 minutes helped Rovers on their way to collect 3 vital points at the KC stadium. But the game was certainly not without incident with Paul Robinson picking up an injury that saw Jason Brown play the second half - and Morten Gamst Pedersen collect a second yellow. Blackburn traveled to Hull knowing this was a 'must win' game. Only 5 wins all season - and a chance to pull out of the bottom three on goal difference. Big Sam made 10 changes from the 11 who started at Coventry and just one from last weeks trip to Old Trafford. Roque Santa Cruz was the loan striker supported by a five man midfield. But after thirty minutes, it was two mid-fielders who gave the visitors the lead, firstly thanks to Stephen Warnock from inside the penalty box thanks to assistance from Roque. Then just two minutes later Warnock provided Keith Andrews with the cross for his close range shot and Rovers were 2-0 up! And that's how it remained 'till half time when an injured Paul Robisnon was to be replaced by Jason Brown. Rovers continued to call the shots. But after an hour a strait red card for Dean Marney for a foul on Pedersen saw the Tigers down to 10 men. Ironically Pedersen was next to get an early bath when he collected a second yellow. Big Sam was not happy! So both teams with ten men - and Hull next to claim the advantage. After an initial clearance from Brown, Bernard Mendy provided Ian Ashbee with the ball and City had one back. Still 14 minutes to play and all hands to the pump. Five minutes of added time added tension as the home fans hoped for a second - but Blackburn held on. The win sees them back out of the bottom three on goal difference - with more matches in play this afternoon.
Big Sam told the BBC "We were getting to the stage of must-win football matches, to get three points on the board. Today my players, the way they started, weren't really using the ball correctly, but once we got Stephen taking a very good chance, it gave us the confidence to go on. We defended tremendously well throughout the game, we dug it out very well." Blackburn are back at Ewood Park on Wednesday when Everton are the visitors. (March 1st 2009)
UPDATE: Paul Robinson was sent for a 'Precautionary' X-Ray after he left the game at half time - shoulder or chest could be the problem.
bbc.co.uk (full report + interview) ALSO rovers.co.uk(reaction) PLUS goals0809 + t&t0809