retired_teju

Amazing level of detail in your reports. Let's hope you can keep it up. Good luck!

retired_tnovo

Saturday 20th August 2005

ROVERS HOLD ON TO DENY LATICS
WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1

Blackburn Rovers were sure to have been relieved to hear the final whistle as they held on to a point at the JJB Stadium having survived a second half Wigan onslaught this afternoon. Paul Dickov cancelled out Jimmy Bullard's stunning opening strike in the first half. Rovers keeper Richard Lee then put in a defiant display to save Blackburn from defeat. Faiz Khan decided to make four changes to his side from Monday's defeat to Manchester United - Lee, Brett Emerton, Garry Flitcroft and Dickov coming in for Brad Friedel, David Bentley, Steven Reid and Shefki Kuqi. Wigan boss Paul Jewell himself made three changes to his side from their impressive opening victory at Middlesbrough with Matt Jackson, Alan Mahon and John Hartson replacing Arjan de Zeeuw, David Wright and Damian Francis.

Referee Martin Atkinson blew the whistle to enter proceedings at the JJB Stadium. The opening few minutes was a scrappy affair which took place mostly in the midfield before Wigan had a good early opportunity to take the lead. Denis Boyarintsev strode down the left wing and swung a ball into the area onto the head of Mahon but his effort was brilliantly tipped over by Lee. Moments later, Blackburn fashioned out their first opening of the match. Robbie Savage spread a beautiful crossfield pass for Morten Gamst Pedersen to lay off to Flitcroft but he sent his effort yards over the bar. Poor finish but that was encouraging for the watching Faiz Khan. Halfway through the first half, Emerton dribbled crossfield and gave the ball to Pedersen and the Norweigan sent his shot just inches wide of the post. It was just past the halfhour mark when Wigan broke the deadlock and how! Leighton Baines spread the ball out wide to Pascal Chimbonda and he laid off the ball to Bullard and he shot on the turn into the top corner from more than 30 yards out to leave the crowd speechless. Blackburn tried to hit back straight away but Matt Jansen's volley sailed over the crossbar. And Rovers showed true resolve to get back on level terms minutes later. A long high ball over the top from Lucas Neill left the Wigan backline flatfooted and Dickov took one touch and fired the ball underneath the body of Mike Pollitt to stun the home crowd. Moments after the equaliser, Mahon saw a freekick heading for goal until Richard Lee outstretched himself to deny the Irishman. Jansen then missed a great chance to put Rovers ahead instead shooting into the sidenetting with Dickov well placed for an open net. Just before half time, a slick Wigan counter attack culminated in Mahon shooting tamely at Lee in the Balckburn goal. With that, the whistle went for halftime. Bullard's stunning strike gave Wigan a brief lead before Dickov equalised in a very even first half with both teams creating and spurning opportunities. The score at halftime was WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1.

Straight from the restart, Wigan should really have taken the lead again. Josep Skoko sent Hartson through to see his shot turned away fantastically by Lee but the rebound came to Augustin Delgado on the spot only to send the ball yards wide. Ten minutes into the second half, Neill cut the ball back to Savage on the volley but unfortunately his shot skimmed the crossbar. Moments later, Lee was the hero again this time deflecting a Hartson shot for a corner. After the hour mark, Boyarintsev crossed for Hartson to head over the crossbar. The match went back to a niggly, scrappy midfield battle for fifteen to twenty minutes until Blackburn really should have won the game with five minutes remaining. Makeshift right-back Emerton sent the ball high down the line for substitute David Bentley. His cross was so perfect is was laid on a plate for Savage to win the game but he failed to connect properly and his effort trickled well wide. Minutes later, the referee blew for fulltime to bring a very hectic match to its conclusion. Blackburn had survived a very good second half performance from Wigan to grab which they scarcely deserved. The final scoreline from the JJB Stadium was WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1

Wigan : Pollitt 6, Chimbonda 7, Baines 7, Henchoz 7, Jackson 7, Skoko 8, Boyarintsev 7 (Wright 72, 6), Bullard 8, Mahon 6 (Francis 81, 6), Delgado 7 (Camara 72, 6), Hartson 6.

Goals : Bullard (33)

Booked : Henchoz

Blackburn : Lee 8 (Enckelman 59, 7), Neill 7 (Todd 59, 7), Gray 7, Nelsen 6, Mokoena 7, Emerton 7, Pedersen 7 (Bentley 73, 6), Savage 7, Flitcroft 7, Dickov 7, Jansen 6.

Goals : Dickov (39)

Man of the Match : Richard Lee - the keeper on loan from Watford was inspiring in his Premiership debut as his stunning saves kept Blackburn in the game at all times and led his team to a point.

Attendance : 24110
Referee : Martin Atkinson

retired_tnovo

Cheers mate, always like to put good detail in my stories. :thup:

retired_tnovo

Saturday 27th August 2005

SHOCK OF THE DAY: BLACK CATS DEFY THE ODDS

A stunning rearguard performance by Sunderland earned a much needed point as a 0-0 draw at Manchester City lifted them off the bottom. City pounded and pounded on the away goal but they could not find a way through as Sunderland hung for dear life.

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Saturday 27th August 2005

SPURS BEAT DOWN ROVERS IN FIVE GOAL THRILLER
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2

Faiz Khan must be hoping this is not a sign of things to come as Blackburn squandered a two goal advantage to let Tottenham to snatch all three points at White Hart Lane this afternoon. Substitute Grzegorz Rasiak struck the winner nine minutes from time after Jermain Defoe and Wayne Routledge got Spurs back on level terms. Rovers took an early two goal lead through Paul Dickov and David Bentley's first ever goal for the club. Both sides finished with ten men as Paul Stalteri and Shefki Kuqi were sent off in a pulsating encounter. Faiz Khan made two changes from the side that drew at Wigan last weekend with Bentley and Steven Reid coming in for Brett Emerton and Garry Flitcroft who both dropped to the bench. Spurs manager Martin Jol made three changes to his team from their midweek draw at Middlesbrough, with Stalteri, Andy Reid and Mido replacing Stephen Kelly, Edgar Davids and Rasiak.

Referee Mike Dean got the match on a mild late August afternoon as Blackburn wasted no time whatsoever by making a dream start to the match. Just 30 seconds had passed on the clock when Morten Gamst Pedersen fizzed a freekick into the near post for Dickov to flick the ball into the roof of the net. Just minutes later, Rovers were in dreamland as they extended their lead. Robbie Savage struck a corner low to an unmarked Bentley and he punished Tottenham with a sweetly struck volley into the roof of the net giving Rob Burch absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near the ball. Spurs tried to hit back straight away but Mido put a great chance well over the bar from a cunning Jermaine Jenas through ball. A minute later, Spurs were back in this game. Michael Carrick received the ball in the middle of the park and sent a ball over the top for Defoe to latch on to and fire the shot past Richard Lee into the far corner. Moments later, a high ball from Stalteri was flicked on by Mido and Andy Reid had his shot tipped over brilliantly by Lee in the Blackburn goal. Halfway through the first half, Blackburn fell asleep at a Spurs corner and breathed a huge sigh of relief as Routledge skied his effort well over the bar from the edge of the box. On the halfhour, Tottenham pegged Rovers back. Lee-Young-Pyo strode down the left wing and whipped a ball into the area for Routledge to place a diving header firmly past Lee to score his first ever goal for the club and to send the home fans into raptures. Just five minutes later, Spurs should have taken an amazing lead. Andy Reid sent Mido through on goal but once again the Egyptian's finishing was found wanting as he skied his effort well over the bar. And his mistake led Blackburn almost taking the lead again. Mido misplaced the ball looking for Carrick but instead sending Matt Jansen through on goal but he produced a carbon copy of Mido's miss as his shot went high, wide and handsomely over the bar. From the resulting goal kick, Mido went through again but while his shot found the target, Lee was equal to the task and turned it aside for a corner. In first half stoppage time, Spurs' game turned on its head as they were reduced to ten men. Stalteri had earlier been booked for a foul on Pedersen and then he shoved the Norweigan to the ground right in front of the linesman and the referee had no option but to brandish the red card and Stalteri was gone. After all that chaos, Mike Dean brought an entertaining first half to an end. Tottenham came back from a great Rovers start to draw level but Stalteri's sending-off has really made the second half very interesting viewing indeed. The score from White Hart Lane at the interval was TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2.

The second half got underway with Faiz Khan urging his team to press home the one-man advantage and grab these three points. However, there wasnt a single chance in the first ten minutes of the half as the match got very scrappy in the midfield. Defoe went on mazy run down the right flank and took a shot but it was comfortably smothered by Lee. Moments later, Michael Gray did a better job than Defoe but his fizzing shot was superbly stopped by Rob Burch in the Spurs goal. Halfway through the second half, Blackburn came so close to taking the lead once again. Savage's corner was poorly punched away by Burch and substitute Kuqi's header was drifting in until Nourredine Naybet stuck out a foot and cleared the ball off the line to deny Rovers a dramatic goal. And that huge moment in the game was to prove oh so crucial as Tottenham took a dramatic late lead against all the odds. Savage failed to clear the ball and Andy Reid crossed for substitute Rasiak to smash home an effort with the aid of an Aaron Mokoena deflection into the top corner of the net. After the goal, there was an almighty siege expected on the Spurs goal. However, Blackburn resorted to long balls into a crowded area that repeatedly headed away by Naybet and the excellent Michael Dawson. In stoppage time, Kuqi's frustration got the better of him as responded to Naybet's taunts by shoving him. The referee Mike Dean immediately sent Kuqi off although television replays had shown Naybet did react very theatrically to get the Blackburn man. Mike Dean then blew for full time to end an absolute belter of a match in North London. Blackburn boss must be wondering what happened when they went two goals up early on and also gained a one-man advantage and they now lie second from bottom in the Premiership table but Spurs wont be complaining with the final score of TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2.

Tottenham : Burch 7, Stalteri 6, Lee-Young-Pyo 7, Naybet 7, Dawson 7, Routledge 7 (Davids 52, 7), Reid 7, Jenas 6, Carrick 7, Defoe 6 (El Hamdaoui 76, 6), Mido 7 (Rasiak 76, 7).

Goals : Defoe (9), Routledge (29), Rasiak (81)

Booked : Stalteri, Jenas, Defoe & Mido.

Sent Off : Stalteri (45)

Blackburn : Lee 6, Neill 6, Gray 7, Nelsen 6 (Flitcroft 74, 6), Mokoena 6, Bentley 7 (Emerton 74, 6), Pedersen 8, Savage 8, Reid 6, Dickov 7, Jansen 6 (Kuqi 64, 5).

Goals : Dickov (1), Bentley (4)

Booked : Neill

Sent Off : Kuqi (90)

Man of the Match : Morten Gamst Pedersen - the Norweigan winger was a constant threat all afternoon as Spurs simply could not cope with his dribbling and pace. Also set up the opening goal for Dickov in the first minute.

Attendance : 29993
Referee : Mike Dean

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Monday 29th August 2005

SHOCK OF THE DAY II: POMPEY STUN POOL

European Champions Liverpool were stunned and humbled twice away from home in a week as Portsmouth beat the Merseyside outfit 1-0. The only goal was scored by Dario Silva midway through the second half. Liverpool tried very hard to nick a point but former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld in particular prevented that from happening.

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Wednesday 31st August 2005

KHAN IN BEAT THE DEADLINE DEAL

Blackburn Rovers have completed the deadline day signing of right-back Angelos Cijntje from Dutch First Division side Veendam for a fee of £250,000. Cijntje is said to be extremely happy to have joined a team in the top flight of the Premiership. The defender is said to be signed as back up to Australian full back Lucas Neill.

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Wednesday 31st August 2005

DICKOV DOUBLE HELPS ROVERS TO OVERDUE WIN
BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

It may have been a long time coming but Faiz Khan finally witnessed a Blackburn Rovers victory and it came at Ewood Park as 10-man Newcastle were dispatched with ease. A Paul Dickov brace and Matt Jansen strike were enough for Blackburn while Michael Owen got a consolation goal late on for Newcastle. The Magpies finished the game without a man as Craig Moore was sent off before Rovers' first goal. Faiz Khan to give David Bentley a rest and made one change to the side that lost at Tottenham at the weekend with Brett Emerton replacing Bentley. Newcastle manager Graeme Souness made two changes from the line up that beat Birmingham last Saturday as Celestine Babayaro and Jean-Alain Boumsong replaced Martin Cranie and Robbie Elliot.

On a very cold and windy night at Ewood Park, referee Chris Foy got the match up and running to the roar of the home crowd. Blackburn got off to a bright start, particularly Emerton as he went on a second minute dribble but his long range effort went sailing high and wide. After ten minutes, Morten Gamst Pedersen exchanged passes with Jansen and sent over a cross which Steven Reid could only direct inches wide. Moments later, Rovers came very close to opening the scoring with a quick breakaway. Michael Gray dispossessed Nolberto Solano on the halfway line and Pedersen went rampaging towards to the Newcastle goal and sent over a cross. Emerton was at the far post to head the ball back for Robbie Savage who saw his subsequent effort cleared off the line Moore. The away side had not made a good start at all and their situation was made bleaker halfway through the first half when they were reduced to ten men. A long high ball by Michael Gray sent Dickov clear on goal but was brought crashing down from behind by Craig Moore and the referee didnt hesitate for one second before showing the red card. And moments later, Rovers made their pressure and one-man advantage count. Reid stabbed the ball forward and Jansen was away on goal but instead of shooting, he saw the easy ball and squared it to Dickov to fire into an empty net to grab his third goal in as many games. On the halfhour, Newcastle finally threatened to score a goal but Scott Parker's effort from way out was high, wide and handsome. Two minutes before halftime, Rovers extended their lead in delightful fashion. Superb one touch football between Savage, Reid and Dickov sent Jansen who provided a beautifully flighted chip over Lee Woon-Jae and the home crowd went wild. Just moments later, Owen broke clear on goal and committed Ryan Nelsen but his effort could not beat Richard Lee at the near post and the chance was gone. The halftime whistle went shortly after and the home crowd were in good noise. Blackburn took advantage of Craig Moore's red card to comfortably lead the match. The score at the interval was BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0

The second half was underway and Blackburn looked to continue where they left off before the interval. Lucas Neill sent Emerton down the right flank and his cross was headed weakly into the arms of Lee Woon-Jae by Jansen. Moments later, Rovers were irresistible as they scored a third goal. Neill sent a wonderful defence-splitting pass around the Newcastle backline and Dickov latched onto it before lifting the ball emphatically over the keeper for his fourth goal of the season so far. After the goal, for the best part of ten minutes, Blackburn were teasing their opponents just passing the ball around and juggling the ball around. Faiz Khan was shouting at his team not to showboat too much. And he was right as Newcastle got a goal back on the hour thanks to some scandalous defending. Aaron Mokoena weak header back to the keeper was pounced on by Owen and he took the ball wide before slotting the ball into the far corner. Straight from the kickoff, Blackburn created another opportunity. Substitute David Bentley dribbled down the left flank and crossed for Dickov to grab his hat-trick goal only for the Scot to head the ball the wrong side of the goal. After that, the game went very quiet and nothing really happened until ten minutes were left on the clock. New signing Angelos Cijntje sent Neill clear down the right flank and he had three players rushing into the area but he decided to go alone and his shot went waywardly wide, much to the dismay of his team-mates. Just before the end of the game, Dickov had another great opportunity to get his hat-trick but he took too long and Babayaro snatched the ball away from him. The referee blew for the end of the game minutes later and Blackburn were visibly happy to have finally won their first game of the season. The early Newcastle sending-off provided the platform for Paul Dickov to score twice and Matt Jansen got in on the action to make sure Michal Owen's goal was no more than a consolation. Rovers climbed up to 13th place in the Premiership table with this long overdue victory and the final score from Ewood Park was BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1.

Blackburn : Lee 8, Neill 8, Gray 8, Nelsen 9, Mokoena 7, Emerton 7, Pedersen 7 (Bentley 63, 7), Savage 8, Reid 8 (Flitcroft 74, 7), Dickov 9, Jansen 8 (Cijntje 74, 6).

Goals : Dickov (26, 50), Jansen (43)

Newcastle : Lee Woon-Jae 6, Carr 6, Babayaro 7, Boumsong 7, Moore 5, Solano 6 (Dyer 73, 6), Emre 6 (N'Zogbia 73, 7), Parker 6, Clark 6 (Taylor 45, 8), Owen 7, Luque 7.

Goals : Owen (62)

Sent Off : Moore (21)

Man of the Match : Ryan Nelsen - the strong centre-back had a fantastic game of the heart of the Blackburn backline as his strong tackles and great interceptions gave his side the assurances and platform on which to build on. This imperious performance will give both himself and the team great confidence to take big strides forward.

Attendance : 22300
Referee : Chris Foy

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Thursday 1st September 2005

MONTHLY AWARDS FOR AUGUST

The Barclays Premiership Player of the Month was Chelsea's powerful striker Didier Drogba as his four goals in three games helped defending champions Chelsea lead the table already.

The Barclays Premiership Young Player of the Month was Fulham's enthusiastic centre-back Zesh Rehman as his mature performances at the back has helped his side into a very 5th place with only a month gone.

The Barclays Premiership Manager of the Month was Chelsea's Jose Mourinho as his leadership has helped his team to a 100% record so far this season in the Premiership.

The Barclays Premiership Goal of the Month was Njazi Kuqi's sublime finish to save a point for Birmingham against Charlton on the opening day of the season.

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Wednesday 7th September 2005

ROVERS DOMINATE TEAM OF THE WEEK

Blackburn Rovers have seen five players selected for the Barclays Premiership Team of the Week after their convincing victory against Newcastle United last week. The team is as follows:

Sander Westerveld (Portsmouth)

Lucas Neill (Blackburn)
Andy O'Brien (Portsmouth)
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)
Michael Gray (Blackburn)

Steven Reid (Blackburn)
Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool)
Radostin Kishishev (Charlton)
Laurent Robert (Portsmouth)

Paul Dickov (Blackburn)
Dario Silva (Portsmouth)