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Saturday 10th September 2005

SHOCK OF THE DAY: CHELSEA HELD BY VILLA

Despite a predictably one-sided match at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were surprisingly held by mid-table Aston Villa. This result brought to an end the champion's 100% record so far in the Premiership this season. Chelsea had more of the ball and pounded on the Villa goal relentlessly but could not find a way through keeper Thomas Sorensen.

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Sunday 11th September 2005

ROVERS BRING FULHAM CRASHING DOWN TO EARTH
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 FULHAM 0

Fulham might have made an impressive start to the Premiership season, but Blackburn certainly showed that they have the potential to become pretty successful under new manager Faiz Khan at Ewood Park this afternoon. Goals from Paul Dickov and Garry Flitcroft settled a very even match and made it two wins in a row. The difference between the two sides was probably the outstanding home defence and another inspiring performance from Blackburn goalkeeper Richard Lee. Khan made two changes to his team as he replaced tired Australian pair Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton with Angelos Cijntje and David Bentley while Fulham boss made one change by bringing in Steed Malbranque to replace Ahmad Elrich.

Experienced referee Graham Poll got the match underway on a wet Sunday afternoon at Ewood Park. Blackburn moved quickly into their early on as Paul Dickov pounced on slack Fulham defending and set up Matt Jansen but his shot was superbly stopped by keeper Alan Blayney in the Fulham goal. Moments later, Rovers built on that confident start by taking an early lead. Morten Gamst Pedersen ran with the ball down the left wing and crossed for Dickov to expertly lob Blayney from six yards to grab his 5th goal of the season. The home fans were clearly happy with the goal as they started getting their chants going. Fulham almost hit back immediately as Zat Knight headed just inches wide from an Esteban Valencia corner. Moments later, Liam Rosenior went down the right flank and whipped the ball into an unmarked Claus Jensen only for the Dane to glance his header over the bar. Fulham were really piling the pressure on now as they spurned their third headed opportunity. Niclas Jensen whipped a deep cross into the area and Malbranque headed just inches wide. Blackburn needed some respite and before the halfhour mark, Robbie Savage curled a free-kick just inches over the bar to the dismay of the Rovers faithful. Just after the halfhour mark, Savage was pulled back for a foul on Niclas Jensen and Valencia curled his free-kick but it was saved in camera-flashing fashion by keeper Richard Lee. Straight after that, Rovers should have scored a second goal. David Bentley went scampering down the right flank, crossed for Dickov who took a touch before blasting the ball well over the bar, to his own frustration. Five minutes before the break, a lovely one-touch sweeping move involving Savage, Bentley and Pedersen ended with Jansen's fierce header brilliantly tipped over by Blayney. Just before halftime, Tomasz Radzinski got to the byline and crossed a deep ball to the back post for Valencia to score, only Lee was having none of it, tipping it over for a corner. The resulting corner was cleared and Graham Poll blew for the break. Blackburn's quick start got them an early goal but Fulham looked like scoring every time they came forward and the second half was going to be very interesting. At Ewood Park, the halftime score was BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 FULHAM 0.

The second half got underway and Rovers were quickly playing well as Savage hit the ball on the volley but the shot went well wide. On 55 minutes, Fulham should have equalised. A wonderful one-touch tean move ended with Valencia going clear on goal with only Lee to beat but he fired his shot into the sidenetting to both his and his team-mate's frustration. Midfielder Garry Flitcroft came into play on the hour and he made an immediate impact, landing a sucker punch on Fulham. Flitcroft spreaded the ball out to Pedersen on the left and the Norweigan's cross was met at the near post by Flitcroft and his header was planted into the roof of the net to give his team a wonderful two goal cushion. Fulham should have scored almost immediately as Radzinski went clear on goal but he found Lee in goal in inspiring form as his effort was tipped wide for a corner. Midway through the second half, Michael Gray had a rare foray forward and his cross-cum-shot was slammed in by Jansen only for him to be ruled offside by the linesman. On 77 minutes, Cijntje made his forward and crossed for Dickov but his header was just inches wide of the goal. Three minutes later, Fulham realised that it wasnt going to be their day. Substitute Elrich stormed forward and his cross was pushed away by Lee and from the rebound, fellow substitute Heider Helguson looked to have scored but his effort was also brilliantly stopped by the excellent Lee. The last action of the match came in stoppage time as Papa Bouba Diop freekick curled and curved just inches wide of the near post. With that, Graham Poll called the end of the game as Blackburn notched two wins in a row bringing Fulham's impressive start to the season to an abrupt halt. Maybe, just maybe the difference here today was the finishing of Fulham, in comparison to the clinical finishing of Rovers. The final score at Ewood Park was BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 FULHAM 0.

Blackburn : Lee 9, Cijntje 8, Gray 8, Nelsen 9, Mokoena 8, Bentley 7 (Taylor 76, 6), Pedersen 7 (Flitcroft 60, 7), Savage 7, Reid 7 (Emerton 60, 7), Dickov 8, Jansen 7.

Goals : Dickov (5), Flitcroft (65)

Booked : Gray

Fulham : Blayney 6, Rosenior 7 (Goma 82, 7), Jensen 8, Rehman 8, Knight 6, Vilakazi 7, Diop 7, Jensen 6, Malbranque 6 (Elrich 75, 6), Radzinski 7, Valencia 6 (Helguson 75, 7).

Man of the Match : Richard Lee - the goalkeeper on loan from Watford keeps impressing and he must be inspired every time he plays as he stopped everything Fulham had to throw at him, yes the kitchen sink too. Kept a deserved clean sheet and must be really pushing for a permanent deal.

Attendance : 23469
Referee : Graham Poll

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Monday 12th September 2005

NELSEN MAKES THE TEAM

Following Blackburn's impressive victory over Fulham yesterday, defender Ryan Nelsen was selected in the Barclays Premiership Team of the Week. The team is as follows:

Nigel Martyn (Everton)

Tony Hibbert (Everton)
William Gallas (Chelsea)
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)
Niclas Jensen (Fulham)

Daniel Braaten (Wigan)
Boudewijn Zenden (Liverpool)
Edgar Davids (Tottenham)
Kevin Kilbane (Everton)

Marcus Bent (Everton)
Agustin Delgado (Wigan)

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Tuesday 20th September 2005

EAGLES SURVIVE ROVERS FIGHTBACK TO GO THROUGH
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 3

As well as most Blackburn's supporters, Faiz Khan was really hoping for a long League Cup run in his debut season as Rovers manager. But Crystal Palace had other ideas as they deservedly won a very entertaining encounter at Ewood Park tonightto go through to the League Cup 3rd Round. Palace went into a three goal lead through a Andy Johnson brace and Clinton Morrison goal. Shefki Kuqi almost helped Rovers stage an incredible late fightback with two goals himself but it was too little too late as the damage was already done. Faiz Khan decided to make many changes to his side with only Richard Lee, Angelos Cijntje, David Bentley and Matt Jansen keeping their places from the victory over Fulham. Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie named an unchanged team from their emphatic win against Norwich last weekend.

On a very wet and cold evening at Ewood Park, referee John Monk got the proceedings underway. Blackburn got off to a quick bright and should have taken the lead inside two minutes. David Bentley's corner came to Kuqi at the near post for an easy tap-in but he shot instead into the side-netting. And Rovers were made to regret that missed opportunity four minutes later as Crystal Palace took a surprise lead. David Thompson headed a cross away but the referee ruled that he pushed Tom Soares before making contact with the ball. Johnson stepped up and duly converted the penalty low to Lee's left. Blackburn were really rocked by that early goal and they didnt really make any response until the 17th minute. Brett Emerton took a freekick short to Zurab Khizanishvili who had a shot but it was too high, wide and handsome to trouble the Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly. A minute later, Bentley went down the right flank and sent in a cross for Jansen but his header was superbly stopped by Kiraly. Halfway through the first half, Rovers were kicking themselves as they missed a great chance to equalise. Bentley sent Kuqi through on goal with only Kiraly but the Finn couldnt get enough power to trouble the Palace keeper. Just after the halfhour mark, Palace should have scored their second goal. Jobi McAnuff sent Morrison clear on goal but his effort was a carbon copy of Kuqi just moments earlier and Lee made a routine save. Ten minutes later, Palace came forward again as McAnuff fed Johnson the ball only for the striker to send his effort way over the bar. A few minutes went and the referee blew for the interval to end a great first half for the neutrals. Palace's early goal set the tone for the rest of the half as both teams shared great opportunities to add to their tallies. The halftime scoreline was BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 1.

The second half was underway as both sides were cancelling each other out for the first few minutes until Crystal Palace missed yet another great opportunity to extend their advantage. Morrison exchanged passes with Aki Riihilahti before breaking clear in the Blackburn box only to careless chip the ball yards wide. From the resulting goal kick, Morrison went breaking down the right flank and his cross was headed into the sidenetting by the onrushing Johnson. Moments later, Bentley's cross into the Palace area was met by a sweetly struck volley by Emerton but he could only watch on in amazement and awe as Kiraly acrobatically threw himself across to tip the ball over the bar. On the hour mark, Palace shocked the home crowd by extending their lead. Morrison played a wonderful ball to send Johnson clear on goal and the England international struck his shot home off the near post. Faiz Khan barked at his team to start throwing caution to the wind for the rest of the game. But that strategy blew up in his face four minutes later as Palace scored another goal. Morrison exchanged passes with Johnson and the Irish international send a low effort crashing in at Lee's near post. With really nothing left to lose, Blackburn went straight for the goal. And from the restart, Rovers hit back straight away. Emerton came forward and sent Kuqi through and the Finn delicately chipped the ball over Kiraly into the back of the net. Kuqi punched the air and got the crowd going. Could a comeback be coming on the way? A few minutes later, Morrison should have finished the match once and for all but his effort was to close to Lee and the chance was missed. With just more than ten minutes remaining on the clock, Rovers got themselves right back into this match. Substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen's high ball was flicked on by Jansen and the ball was met by a well struck left-footed volley into the top corner by Kuqi. The home crowd were alive and were really willing their team on now. Unfortunately for them though, the game peetered out and the last few minutes saw Palace players running down the clock by getting the ball near the corners and winning throw-ins and corners. The referee blew for fulltime to bring this sparkling cup tie as Blackburn were knocked out at home by Championship side Crystal Palace. Palace got an early goal before exploding on the hour to go three goals to the good but were made hang on at the end as Rovers got two goals back to ensure a nervy finish for the Eagles. At Ewood Park, on this wet and cold night, the final score was BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 3.

Blackburn : Lee 6, Cijntje 6, Taylor 6 (Dickov 61, 6), Khizanishvili 6, Matteo 7, Emerton 7, Bentley 6, Flitcroft 6 (Savage 65, 7), Thompson 6 (Pedersen 57, 7), Kuqi 8, Jansen 7.

Goals : Kuqi (68, 79)

Injured : Flitcroft (65)

Crystal Palace : Kiraly 7, Boyce 7 (Butterfield 79, 7), Granville 8, Hall 8, Ward 7, McAnuff 8, Hall 8 (Reich 77, 6), Soares 8, Riihilahti 8, Johnson 8, Morrison 8 (Black 77, 7).

Goals : Johnson (pen 6, 61), Morrison (65)

Booked : Ryan Hall

Man of the Match : Jobi McAnuff - the Jamaican international was a constant threat to the Blackburn backline and gave home debutant Andy Taylor an absolute nightmare with his runs and skills. One for the future.

Attendance : 10025
Referee : John Monk

retired_jgirl87

Nice to see a story about one of the smaller Premier League clubs - and a top effort it is too. KUTGW mate. :thup:

retired_tnovo

Cheers mate, thought I'd have a challenge.

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Saturday 24th September 2005

ROVERS DO JUST ENOUGH TO SEE OFF POMPEY
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 PORTSMOUTH 0

It's a great time to be a Blackburn Rovers supporter at the moment. Manager Faiz Khan kept the good times coming as his side won their third Premiership game in a row with a victory in a very tight but drab match. Goals on the stroke of both halftime and fulltime from Matt Jansen and debutant Craig Bellamy were enough for a less than convincing Blackburn against an equally unconvincing Portsmouth outfit at Ewood Park this afternoon. Khan changed his line-up from his side's victory over Fulham with returning Brad Friedel and Lucas Neill replacing unluckily benched Richard Lee and Angelos Cijntje respectively. Pompey manager Alain Perrin named an unchanged team from the home defeat to Middlesbrough last weekend.

On a dry but very cold Saturday afternoon, referee Martin Atkinson got the match underway. For the first ten minutes of the match, there was really nothing to talk about. But then Portsmouth should have taken the lead. Lomana LuaLua went scampering down the right wing and he placed a cross to an unmarked Collins Mbesuma only for the striker to head the ball well over the bar. Halfway through the first half, Pompey were desperately unlucky to not go ahead. LuaLua exchanged passes with Mbesuma before unleashing a rocket of a shot which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and trickled away to safety, much to the home crowd's obvious relief. Blackburn didnt really get going until five minutes before the interval. Jansen flicked the ball to David Bentley and the winger went on a mazy run and tried to catch Sander Westerveld off his line with a audacious lob but the keeper was more than equal to it, brilliantly tipping the ball over the bar. And on the stroke of halftime, Rovers made their mark on the game by taking the lead. Robbie Savage received the ball from Jansen, went on a mazy run before sending the striker through on goal and he showed great composure by literally passing the ball past Westerveld to give Faiz Khan finally something to smile about from the first half. That was the last kick of the half as the referee brought the first half to a close. A truly uneventful first half came to life at the end with Matt Jansen's well taken finish. The half time score from Ewood Park was BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 PORTSMOUTH 0.

As the second half got underway, both managers were very animated on the benches as they urged their teams to really force the issue. Not that Blackburn really needed to as they had the lead. But both sides didnt listen to their bosses as they played a very uninspiring ten minutes until Rovers stepped up a gear and created a golden opportunity to score a second goal. Morten Gamst Pedersen sent Dickov clear on goal but the Scot's effort went just inches wide. Both sides of the crowd, particularly the home crowd were getting really restless at the lack of action which hadnt made up for all the money they had paid. Halfway through the second half, Savage played a freekick short to substitute Brett Emerton and the Australian unleashed a stinging effort which Westerveld did well to smother. The keeper threw the ball long to Gregory Vignal and he went busting down the left and crossed for Milovan Mirosevic but his header was superbly stopped by the mere fingertips of Friedel in the Blackburn goal. Moments later, Rovers should have extended the lead. Steven Reid exchanged passes with Bentley down the right flank and sent a cross to the near post where Craig Bellamy could only head straight at Westerveld. Maybe the long injury layoff had something to do with that missed opportunity. Just five minutes remaining and Portsmouth really should have been level. John Viafara and Zvonimir Vukic combined to send LuaLua clear of the Blackburn defence but his shot was too close to Friedel and the chance was gone. Bellamy went breaking down the other end and only a wonderful stop from Westerveld denied him getting his debut goal there. In stoppage time, Blackburn made the game safe by scoring a second goal. Emerton went down the right flank and passed it through to Dickov with acres of space but instead of shooting, he saw Bellamy at the far post and the Scot dinked the ball for Bellamy to powerfully head the ball past Westerveld. He was so pleased with his debut goal that he ran all the way to the dugout to hug manager Faiz Khan in a really special and touching moment. Moments later, referee Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle and Blackburn had won again. Rovers scored at the end of each half to secure a hard fought victory. It was a turgid first half but things picked up after the break and the fans went home happy. So did the Blackburn side as they found out due to results elsewhere, they have found themselves in 5th place in the Premiership table. This is getting better and better! The final score at Ewood Park was BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 PORTSMOUTH.

Blackburn : Friedel 8, Neill 7, Gray 7, Nelsen 8, Mokoena 7 (Todd 45, 7), Bentley 7, Pedersen 6 (Emerton 64, 6), Savage 8, Reid 8, Dickov 7, Jansen 7 (Bellamy 64, 7).

Goals : Jansen (45), Bellamy (90)

Fulham : Westerveld 7, Priske 7, Vignal 7, O'Brien 7, Stefanovic 7, Mirosevic 6 (O'Neil 72, 6), Chitiva 6 (Taylor 63, 6), Viafara 7, Vukic 7, LuaLua 7, Mbesuma 7 (Karadas 72, 6).

Man of the Match : Brad Friedel - in a uninspiring match, the returning American keeper showed great composure when under pressure and pulled off a stunning stop from Mirosevic with the score still 1-0. Very important return indeed.

Attendance : 30575
Referee : Martin Atkinson

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Portsmouth scored 0 in the last message. My mistake.

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Saturday 24th September 2005

ROVERS SUFFER DICKOV INJURY

Blackburn Rovers have confirmed this evening that Paul Dickov sustained a badly gashed head in the afternoon victory over Portsmouth. The physios have admitted that it will take at most two to three weeks for the Scot to recover. This news will come as a big blow to Faiz Khan as Dickov has been in sparkling form so far this season, scoring five goal in the six league games.

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Monday 26th September 2005

REID PLAYS HIS WAY INTO TEAM

After playing impressively well in the 2-0 victory Portsmouth at the weekend, Irish midfielder Steven Reid was selected in the Premiership Team of the Week. The team is as follows:

David James (Man City)

Lauren (Arsenal)
Nourredine Naybet (Tottenham)
William Gallas (Chelsea)
Gael Clichy (Arsenal)

Steven Reid (Blackburn)
Fabio Rochemback (Middlesbrough)
Aliaksandr Hleb (Arsenal)
Patrik Berger (Aston Villa)

Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal)