retired_tnovo

Saturday 11th February 2006

PEDERSEN RULED OUT FOR SEASON

Blackburn Rovers manager Faiz Khan has just learned that one of his key players is to miss the rest of this Premiership season.

Norway international Morten Gamst Pedersen suffered a torn claf muscle while running for the ball against Portsmouth earlier on this afternoon. The physios at the club have just informed Khan that the winger will be ruled out for between three and four months. It will be a massive blow for Pedersen himself as he has been performing really well recently despite claims that he was looking to leave Ewood Park for a bigger club.

It has also been learned tonight that goalscorer Matt Jansen has sustained a bruised rib and will be absent for up to a fortnight. The Englishman has just signed a new one year extension to his current contract and will be hoping to come back and repay the faith Faiz Khan has shown in him this season.

retired_tnovo

Saturday 18th February 2006

BLACKBURN ANNOUNCE NEW CONTRACTS

Blackburn Rovers have confirmed new contracts for four existing players at the club.

Commanding centre-back Aaron Mokoena has signed a new 2 year contract worth a reported £3,000,000.

Powerful striker Shefki Kuqi, absolutely in-form this season, has been rewarded with a new 2 year contract worth a reported £2,000,000.

Central midfielder Steven Reid has signed a new 3 year contract worth a reported £3,000,000.

Strong Australian full-back Lucas Neill has signed a new 2 year contract worth a reported £1,500,000.

retired_tnovo

Thursday 23th February 2006

FURIOUS MATTEO TRANSFER-LISTED

Blackburn Rovers central defender Dominic Matteo has declared himself very unhappy over the lack of first-team opportunities given by manager Faiz Khan. The Scot believes he deserves a place in the starting eleven but realises that he may need to move on to gain regular first-team football.

Khan has just responded to Matteo's comments with a rather harsh statement. He has told the central defender that he does not figure in his future first-team plans and nobody is stopping him from leaving Ewood Park.

Matteo has since requested a transfer from Blackburn following the harsh words from manager Khan and Khan has not shown any hesitation by immediately granting his request.

retired_tnovo

Saturday 25th February 2006

ROVERS EDGE OUT 10-MAN ALBION
BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0

This is as professional as it gets. Blackburn Rovers defeated West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park this Saturday lunchtime. A Robbie Savage freekick seconds before the halfhour was the difference between the two sides in the north west. West Brom finished the game with 10 men as Aaron Hughes was sent off for a professional foul just before halftime. Rovers had the better of this match and in the end, it was a professional victory for Faiz Khan's side. Khan made two changes from the draw at Portmouth last weekend with Richard Lee and Brett Emerton replacing injured pair Brad Friedel and Morten Gamst Pedersen. Baggies boss Bryan Robson also made two alterations to the side that lost at home to Middlesbrough with Riccardo Scimeca and Diomansy Kamara coming in for Junichi Inamoto and Jan Kristiansen.

The game was started by referee Chris Foy in surprisingly warm conditions at Ewood Park. Blackburn created the first opening of the match after 9 minutes. Steven Reid was tripped by Richard Chaplow 25 yards out and Savage's freekick was saved by Chris Kirkland at the second attempt. On 19 minutes, Lucas Neill's superb crossfield pass sent David Bentley scampering down the left and his cross into the box was glanced well wide by Craig Bellamy. Eight minutes later, Blackburn started to put more pressure on Kirkland's goal. Michael Gray's freekick into the area was headed just inches of the goal by Shefki Kuqi. The pressure finally told just before the halfhour as Rovers took the lead. Thomas Gaardsoe was penalised for backing in to Bellamy and he was fully punished when Savage stepped up and curled the ball around the wall that went powerfully past Kirkland at his near post. After the goal, Rovers were really confident of going on to complete this victory. On 40 minutes, Reid and Bentley combined superbly to put Bellamy clear and his shot from a tight angle was easily smothered by Kirkland. West Brom were really struggling with this pressure and their task was made even harder before halftime as they lost a man. Reid's high ball was flicked on by Kuqi to put Bellamy clear on goal only to be hauled down by Hughes and the referee showed no hesitation despite protests in brandishing the red card. In first half stoppage time, Bentley sent a cross towards the near post where Reid's header went just over the crossbar. The referee blew for fulltime shortly after to bring this totally one-sided first half. Blackburn have dominated this half and scored on the halfhour with Savage's perfect freekick. West Brom go in at halftime a man down with Hughes' red card. The scoreline at halftime was BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0.

The fans were just getting in their seats inside Ewood Park as the second half got up and running. And Blackburn started the second period as they finished the first, on the front foot. Savage's corner was punched away by Kirkland and as Savage got the ball back, his attempted chip over superbly tipped over the crossbar by Kirkland. Moments later, Gray's high ball into the area was headed high and wide by a disappointing Kuqi. On 52 minutes, West Brom had a very rare foray forward when Zoltan drove forward and struck a 25 yard effort just inches wide of the goal. Two minutes later, Rovers twice had the chance to score a second goal. Savage's corner came to Bellamy who shot at an onrushing Kirkland and then Ryan Nelsen stabbed the ball first time well over the crossbar. Halfway through the second half, Chaplow was booked for a foul on Reid and Savage's resulting freekick was well held by a really fired up Kirkland. The keeper left his best save until last when he denied a certain goal. Substitute Matt Jansen played a one-two with Gray before releasing Bellamy down the left wing. The Welsh international stormed towards goal, cutting inside Gaardsoe before curling the ball towards the far corner only for Kirkland to tip it onto the post and to safety. With just three minutes to go, Blackburn wasted a great opportunity to finish the match off. Reid sent Emerton through on goal and squared the ball for Savage to tap into an open goal only to place his shot so wide that it almost hit the corner flag - Savage was red-faced and so was his manager on the touchline. Shortly after, referee Chris Foy called for the end of the match. It was a totally one-sided match from start to finish won by Blackburn through Savage's first half freekick and West Brom's afternoon went from bad to worse when they were reduced to ten men before halftime. The away side will be relieved that the scoreline was avoided any real damage thanks to excellent Kirkland. The final score from Ewood Park this lunchtime read BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1.

Blackburn : Lee 7 (Enckelman 83, 6), Neill 8, Gray 8, Nelsen 8, Svensson 7, Emerton 6, Bentley 7 (Flitcroft 73, 7), Savage 7, Reid 7, Kuqi 6 (Jansen 60, 7), Bellamy 7.

Goals : Savage (29)

West Brom : Kirkland 8, Hughes 6, Rojas 8, Gaardsoe 6, Clement 7, Scimeca 8, Carter 7, Chaplow 6 (Ozcar Wendt 75, 6), Gera 6, Cuevas 6 (Kristiansen 45, 6), Kamara 7 (Ellington 75, 6).

Booked : Chaplow

Sent Off : Hughes

Man of the Match : Michael Gray - the experienced was solid as you can get at left-back this afternoon, snuffing out any danger with no fuss and rarely got beaten to the ball.

Attendance : 27987
Referee : Chris Foy

retired_tnovo

Sorry, West Brom did not score a goal.

retired_tnovo

Sunday 26th February 2006

LEAGUE CUP FINAL

RAMPANT DROGBA DESTROYS PALACE TO RETAIN CUP
CHELSEA 4 CRYSTAL PALACE 0

Well, no shocks here then. Chelsea retained the League Cup this afternoon after destroying Crystal Palace at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff this afternoon. All four goals were scored by Ivorian international Didier Drogba as Premiership were too strong for the Championship. The match was dominated by the league champions from start to finish as Palace simply could not handle the pressure of cup final day. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho made just one change to the side that drew in Betis in the Champions League with Joe Cole replacing Eidur Gudjohnsen. Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie named an unchanged side that drew at Millwall last weekend.

Both sets of fans were creating a tremendous atmosphere inside the Millennium Stadium when referee John Monk got the final underway. The favourites made a bright start and almost scored inside 9 minutes. Michael Essien exchanged passes with Drogba and stormed towards goal before unleashing a powerful effort heading for the top corner until David Wilkinson palmed the ball away magnificently. Four minutes later, Chelsea should have taken the lead. Paulo Ferreira found Cole inside the area who squared for Drogba to tap home only he forgot where the goal was as the shot was well wide of the mark. And a minute later, a firm Drogba header from a Frank Lampard set-piece was superbly stopped on the line by Wilkinson. Chelsea's early pressure paid dividends in the 21st minute as they took the lead with a wonder goal. Ricardo Carvalho came forward and teed up Drogba from 30 yards and the Ivorian's first time shot arrowed into the bottom far corner leaving Wilkinson grasping at thin air. Moments after the goal, Chelsea should have extended the lead. Cole burst down the right flank and crossed to the far post where Drogba's goalbound header was wonderfully tipped over the crossbar by Wilkinson. On 35 minutes, Chelsea did extend their lead with a great team goal. Essien won the ball in midfield and fantastic one touch passing involving Drogba, Damien Duff and Lampard put Drogba through and he slipped the ball past Wilkinson. And just four minutes after the second goal, Chelsea seemingly wrapped up the League Cup with a third goal. Ferreira sent Cole speeding the right wing and his low cross found Drogba at the near post where he took one touch before firing the ball past Wilkinson into the far corner to seal his hat-trick - also his 15th goal of the season. Just before halftime, the favourites were almost four up. Duff's superb far post cross was headed into the far corner by Cole only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. The referee immediately called for the break to bring a nightmare half to an end for Palace. Chelsea were simply too good for their opponents in this first half from start to finish as Didier Drogba's hat-trick gave them a seemingly impossible lead to lose. At halftime in Cardiff, the scoreline was CHELSEA 3 CRYSTAL PALACE 0.

As Jose Mourinho was sharing a joke with the Chelsea supporters, the second half was well underway. The first opportunity of the second period fell to the underdogs and they should have pulled a goal back. Gary Borrowdale went attacking down the left past Ferreira and he crossed towards the near post where an unmarked Andy Johnson headed over the crossbar. And just before the hour mark, Chelsea made him pay as they sealed their retention of the League Cup. Slick passing along the backline found its way to Ferreira on the right and his teasing cross towards the near post was cleverly flicked past Wilkinson and in off the far post by the outstanding Drogba. Halfway through the second half, Palace were enjoying a good spell of possession, almost toying with Chelsea even though they were already beaten and the move ended with Johnson heading Borrowdale's centre well wide of the goal. For the rest of the match, Chelsea were toying with Crystal Palace by just simply keeping possession and getting freekicks almost anywhere. The referee put an end to the final and Chelsea had retained the League Cup after a powerful team display capped by Drogba's four excellently taken goals. Crystal Palace players simply had no answer this afternoon as they were soundly beaten. After the dejected Palace players had received their runner-up medals, proud Chelsea skipper John Terry lifted the League Cup for the second time in row to the roar of the travelling Chelsea supporters. The colour is blue, the team is Chelsea as they lift the first piece of silverware of the season at the Millennium Stadium with the scoreline of CHELSEA 4 CRYSTAL PALACE 0.

Chelsea : Cech 7, Ferreira 9, Gallas 8, Terry 8, Carvalho 8, Essien 7, Makelele 8 (Bridge 75, 6), Lampard 8, Cole 8 (Gudjohnsen 45, 7), Drogba 10, Duff 7 (Robben 45, 6).

Goals : Drogba (22, 35, 39, 59)

Injured : Makelele (75)

Crystal Palace : Wilkinson 6, Boyce 6, Borrowdale 6, Hall 6, Ward 6, McAnuff 6 (Hughes 71, 6), Reich 6 (Watson 71, 6), Soares 6, Riihilahti 6, Johnson 6, Morrison 6 (Popovic 45, 6).

Man of the Match : Didier Drogba - it could only be one man could'nt it! A superb four goal performance from the Ivorian international was just what Jose Mourinho's men needed to lift the League Cup. Palace will be glad to see the back of him but Premiership defenders beware!

retired_tnovo

Attendance : 72483
Referee : John Monk

retired_tnovo

Monday 27th February 2006

GRAY AND NELSEN PICKED FOR TEAM

After their impressive displays in the victory against West Brom at the weekend, Blackburn Rovers pair Michael Gray and Ryan Nelsen have been selected in the Premiership Team of the Week. The team is as follows:

Chris Kirkland (West Brom)

Mario Melchiot (Birmingham)
Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)
Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa)
Mikael Silvestre (Man Utd)

Daniel Braaten (Wigan)
Damien Francis (Wigan)
Edgar Davids (Tottenham)
Michael Gray (Blackburn)

Djibril Cisse (Liverpool)
Mikael Forsell (Birmingham)

retired_tnovo

Monday 27th February 2006

TODD REQUESTS FIRST TEAM FOOTBALL

Blackburn Rovers' strong centre-back Andy Todd has made a statement in the Daily Mirror that he must be playing regular first-team football if he is to stay at Ewood Park. He has also said that he will start looking to move to a new club if this situation doesnt change before the end of the season.

When manager Faiz Khan got hold of his favourite morning newspaper, he was less than happy. Khan responded by telling Todd that he does not figure in his first-team plans this season. Khan has also stated that if wishes to leave Ewood Park, he should not hide his feelings and just leave if he really wants to.

Todd has now gone back on his comments and issued a public apology to Khan for telling the papers about him being disappointed at the lack of first-team opportunities at Ewood Park. Todd has stated his chances of selection would not be helped if he regularly went complaining about his disappointment to the national press.

retired_tnovo

Tuesday 28th February 2006 - Premiership Table


1st - Man Utd - 67 pts
2nd - Liverpool - 59
3rd - Chelsea - 56
4th - Arsenal - 50
5th - Tottenham - 43
6th - Blackburn - 40
7th - Everton - 37
8th - Middlesbrough - 37
9th - Fulham - 36
10th - Charlton - 35
11th - Man City - 32
12th - Newcastle - 32
13th - Portsmouth - 30
14th - Aston Villa - 29
15th - Wigan - 26
16th - Birmingham - 25
17th - West Ham - 24
18th - Bolton - 23
19th - Sunderland - 21
20th - West Brom - 18