The famous Blue and Whites put on a show today in front of a rockin house of 24,845 at Ewood Park. Three goals brought the Rovers three points and their first win, as well their first home goals.

Not being able to watch the game really can be the worst some time, but you know as well as I that sometimes we just gotta roll with the punches.

Highlights after the jump, but some really promising signs about the game.
1. We won. Can’t overstate the importance of getting that first win and 3 points under the belt.
2. We scored 3 goals. Dunny seems to be the spark we need and if he stays fit, we could find up setting up and scoring a ton of goals.

Quite upset we didn’t keep the clean sheet, with Rovers’ defense spacing out on the Wolves goal. And while the win was against lower opposition, confidence is needed at this point of the term.

Rovers take on Everton Sunday, but not the Everton we’re used to. This Everton team sits in 19th with a pretty lame duck start by their standards as a side usually pushing top 6. Hopefully we can go in and attack right from jump street and take them out of the game early and quickly. I’m calling a hard but deserving 2-0win for Rovers as our win streak grows to 2 with goals from Dunn and Roberts.

The game we be delayed aired on FSC in the States, so better late than never eh? We’ll see. UP THE ROVERS!

I’ll be honest here; this is a must win game. After this game we have league games against Everton and Villa, with a league cup game v Notts Forrest thrown in between those games.

Then after Villa and the retrn of big Brad and Stephen Warnock, we have Le Arse, Chelski, The B@stards, and ManUre.

This is a must win game.

Hopefully we will have a lot of players to choose from. Emerton is close to making a comeback, and Dunn, Reidy and Grella all should have used these 7 days extra to get back into shape and fit. Here’s the team I would put out:

——————-Robbo———————
Jacobsen Samba Givet Chimbonda
Dioufy Dunn Nzonzi Pederson
Benni (if fit) Kalinic

Wolves have earned 4 points from their 4 games but should be ours for the taking. If we go out and play solid defensively (like we have been lately) and our strikers can get some shots on target, we should pull out the 3 points.

Any thoughts about the game? Your XI you would field? As always, let me know and UP THE ROVERS!

Shrewd little piece of business I say. 29 isn’t too old at all and the the guy has 22 caps for Denmark.

Three signings already, and more to come surely with reports about Steven N’Zonz agreeing to a deal and a striker sure to come on. Big Sam is rapidly making this squad his own. Exciting times to be a Rover!

A draw against a team in the semi-finals of the F.A. Cup and 6th in the league isn’t a bad result. However, results from teams we’re fighting against to stay in the top flight have not been helping us at all as of late. Our game is hand advantage runs out on Wednesday when we play Fulham, a game I must admit I feel will decide our season. 3 points is vital and will catapult us into 15th if we succeed. It’s time to see what Big Sam and the boys are made of.

Both Hull and Rovers saw themselves reduced to 10 men, MGP sent off for a second yellow just after being involved in the altercation that got Marney sent off for the Tigers. The vital three points boosted Rovers up out of the drop zone and on 26 points but in 17th on Goal difference.

Goals from Stephen Warnock (seen here-click) as well as Andrews (viewable here – click) were enough to give Rovers the edge, though in typical Rovers style left it till late to make it a guaranteed win with some shoddy defending. (I’d post the highlights in here but they’re kinda odd looking, so the links will do for this week.)

Paul Robinson was substituted at the half after sustaining a shoulder injury. He’s probably not going to start tomorrow, but that doesn’t worry me too much. Jason Brown made some wonderful saves, especially at the end of the match, when he came on, so I’m confident he’ll do a good enough job. It’s just up to that back four to give him a bit of help.

Dunn appears fit for selection following a hamstring problem but it’s still up in the air as to whether he’ll be rushed back. Pederson, for his red card, wills serve his match ban tomorrow, but aside from him, Big Sam has a full squad to pick from.

Everton will be no small task. In their last 6 matches, they’re in decent form: L W W W D W and that loss came to ManUre. The match is home at Ewood and while Everton has hasn’t had a fully fit squad in forever, they still continue to tear it up in the league. Timmy Howard will prove hard to beat but a win tomorrow would certainly be a boost to everything- survival, morale, confidence. So let’s hope the lads come out strong. UP THE ROVERS!

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Alright Folks, until next time, Up The Rovers!

I’m in class and cannot get a feed, though this link here is very active and pretty good. I’ll keep you as best informed as I can from here with help from that link and some friends at Brfcs.com and I’ll get a match write up after.

Key Events:
4 mins were added on and the ref finally blows the full time whistle.

Baxter on for Vaughan.

Roque on for Carlos, Peds on for Treacy. Vaughan and Neville getting carded for Everton. Rovers trailing in shots 3 to 4, but still holding the lead. Reports say that Ooijer and Zurab are great today.

Well class is over, walking back to my place now. I’ll fill everyone in Asap. Cheers.

10 Fouls for Everton and not one card, But Carlos gets one now. Beat.

Just as I type that, Both Carlos and Matty Derbs get off shots. Lets go Lads put another one in!

Slow Start to the half by both teams.

Two corners taken by Carlos for Rovers, both cleared. We need to step up our Corner game.

Second half about to start, Let hop on em early again lads. Cahill and Yakubu in for Castillo and Fellaini. No moves for Rovers.

We’re winning possession, 56 – 44. Worryingly though, Everton has 6 shots to our 3, each side with only one on goal.

Half time. Just near the end of the 44th min, Carlos just missed wide left with a good shot at goal.

Captain Warnock(dead serious) playing center mid(also, seriously) gets booked for unsporting behavior.

Matty Derbs has been flagged for offside twice in the last 10 min. Hopefully one of these runs will pay off cause we all kow how well he finishes.

Reports have it as a good flowing game. Fowler had a shot that missed wide, both teams moving up and down the feild. Reports say Ooijer and Zurab holding solid while Carlos is getting into a nice groove.

Everton looking much more involved. Saha and Jagielka just missing chances.

Robbo has been replaced by Jason Brown. Reports say he had a calf strain before the game and tried to play with no avail. Watch this space.

Fowler and Olsson link up for a pretty 1-2 that results in a left foot shot from about 18 from Olsson for a goal.

Watch it end 1-0…

Nonetheless I think we will win. I think playing Emo on the right and bringing in Villanueva and Derbyshire for an ultra-attacking set-up could be the key here. Lescott looks weak and feeble at the moment and Emo’s strength could really bully him, and I think Carlos could be just too quick for the Everton midfield. We may also get a look at Segundo Castillo who we almost signed ourselves.

Rovers in this competition holds good memories for me. The first time I saw Rovers was in the League Cup Final in 2002 in my hometown Cardiff, and of course we won our most recent trophy that day. I won’t forget it.

My prediction: Rovers to win 3-1.

Steven Warnock’s last minute free-kick was headed onto the post by captain Nelsen who was miles offside (and hence unmarked).

Nicely for us, Andre Ooijer was on hand to tap in and secure a 3-2 victory at Everton. What a great start for the new boss!

David Dunn ran the game – maybe it was his return to the no.8 shirt – and opened the scoring midway through the first half with a screamer of a goal. Rovers continued to dominate the first half and Santa Cruz missed two headers that you would have backed him to score – they were ‘his’ kind of goals.

Unfortunately our new keeper didn’t have the best of days. Mikel Arteta’s freekick to the side of the 18 yard box was brilliantly curled into the net when everyone expected a cross, but in fairness Robbo didn’t even seem to have considered a shot and should have had it covered. He also looked dodgy on a few crosses, and this won’t have done his confidence any good. This is annoying since I’m sure his form will correlate with his confidence.

Into the second half and Yakubu scored for Everton by heading in Arteta’s cross (I would eat celery to have Arteta in our team!). However Santa Cruz capitalised on some awful defending to equalise 2 minutes later by latching onto Warnocks long ball.

Ooijer’s winner was a dramatic end to a good match. We beat a very good (albeit injury ravaged team) away from home and several of our players, especially Dunn and Pedersen, looked good.

Final thoughts:

- Despite being huge and possessing clear brute strength, Chris Samba seems to be a bit timid when tussling with big forwards. He struggled last year against Dean Ashton a lot, and Yakubu seemed to give him more problems than he should have.

- Gamst Pedersen was back with the latter of his surnames on the back. I have a feeling he plays better with it that way. Is on some kind of rotation system though?

- As I’ve said, Dunn was impressive. His grabbing of the no.8 shirt and appointment as vice-admiral suggests he will be first choice in midfield and this performance seems to justify that.

- The Axe can’t pass. The upcoming signing of Vince Grella will demote him to the bench and not a moment too soon. However his tackling could be handy as a sub to defend tight leads.

- Reid was decent on the right and him being there freed up Pedersen (with an ‘e’ Jim! ). Roberts was decent but I think McCarthy might do better.

Any, a great start!

Highlights:

GET INNNNNNNNNNN. OOIJER OOIJER OOIJER. NELSON SETS IT UP, HOWARD SPILLS OOIJER TAPS IN. 3-2 ROVERSSSSSSS
90+3- Reid taken down pretty hard about 30 yards out. Last roll of the dice for rovers. Need a good ball in. yakubu Yellow card.
3 Min Added Time
90th- Corner for Rovers. Sub- Dunn off Tugay on
89th- Jagyelka crosses into the box good. Robbo comes out, mistimes the ball, and Baxter luckily puts it over the net.
87th- Rovers offer a good corner ball, somehow cleared, and moko whips it in to Howard.
86th- reacy does great to block off a defender. warnock earns a corner.
83rd- J Roberts off and Benni mac On
81st- About 10 min left; lets hope we can see one more Rovers goal.
78th- tension starting to mount as you cans ee and feel both teams just waiting to open up. Everton sub- Nuno Valente off, Jose Baxter, the 16 year old, on
76th- MGP makes way for Treacy.
75th- Yobo booked.
73rd-74th- Rovers just puring it on now. We have to be able to put one back into the net soon. LETS GO LADS!
72nd- FK from rovers in the middle of the park. About 35 yards out.
70th- Poor cross from warnock who had loads of space. Still 20 min to make this one a winner.
69th- Well Goodison park has died down by 100%. Rovers stalking almost, waiting for another opportune time to strike. It appears as if the wind has been taken from the Everton sails.
66th- SANTA CRUZZZZZZZZZ. Equalizes right away. Just what we needed. 2-2!!
65th- well you could feel this coming. Everton take the lead off of a run and cross that seemed right from the training ground. weak from rovers. 2-1 Everton.
62nd- Corner for Everton headed up and over by Jagyelka or whatever his name is.
60th- Samba does well to block a shot that would have been a big threat as Everton applies some pressure but the play seems to be settling now.
58th- Peds corner is a rocket, howard throws it up and aside.
58th- Corner for Rovers. Lets see if we can get something going.
56th- After a few mins of scares to open the half, rovers settling in. Roberts works all the way to the 6 and, In typical Roberts style, shoots it right into the keeper.
51- Peds with a cross to Reid, who knocks with Baines, heads it over, and goes down hard.
50th- great low ccross by warnock to roberts but his first tuch is poor and he looses it.
48th- Neville with a foul on dun in the rovers’ half.
47th- Dangerous cross, luckily goes untouched for Rovers.
46th- Here we go. Lets see what the lads can do.

The first half showed amazing dominance from a team we are used to seeing show up in the second half. arteta was extremely lucky to equalize and if Rovers come out in the second half with just as much conviction and dont get down on themselves, we should be able to wrap this up.

Half time. Way to ruin my good mood everton.
45+2- Against the run of play, Arteta puts the ball right in. 1-1
45+1- Dunn sacrificing his face to block a rocket of a shot. Great effort. corner folowing is cleared by Samba. Cross in, deflected witht he arm by Reid. FK for everton from a rough angle for rovers.
2 min added time
45h- Anndddd now warnock gets booked. way to go me jinxing him.
44th- Warnock doing good work in the LB role
anyone notice that ooijer looses the ball on his 4th touch all the time?
41st- Arteta whips it wide of the nearside left post.
40th – samba with a foul on Yakubu(sp?) FK now from the edge of the Rovers’ area.
39th- Nelson takes care of the first pseudo threat I’ve seen in a while.
34th- play starting to slow but that just means we’re pushing up in more passes. everton still on the backfoot and Rovers dominating possession.
30th – Neville blocks the FK, Rovers still playing attacking ball, even when defending. great stuff
29th- Free kick for rivers after reid taken down.
26th- Reid down for a lil after taking a knee on a 50 50 ball.
25th- Corner rovers as we just keep pushing and pushing.

24th min- my pancakes are ready, and theyre delicious.
22nd- GETTTTT INNNNNNNNN. DUNN AMAZING AMAZING FINISH with BEND or CURVE or WHATEVER. Balls layed off to dunny by peds, patient and great. One touch and a great left foot finish bending like crazy.
1-0 Rovers

19th- Robbo comes up big wiht a great save from a tricky ball. Following corner cleared away and ball in shot very wide by Everton.
15th min- Rovers moving quick with sharp passes and Everton starting to look shakey. A miscue forces a quick clear for Everton at the back and Dunn has a go from about 50 out. Caught comfortably.
13th min- Great ball in near the corner flag from Reid, Santa with the header, almost no pressure yet heads it over. I’ll chalk this one up to first day cobwebs. He’ll need to score from there.
11th min- Samba with a great slot pass to Roberts who sets up a decent give and go, with a touch following just a bit too heavy. Cleared by the keeper for a throw. good buildup though from Rovers.
10th min- Good back and flow play now as both teams settle in.
6th- THrow in forward for Rovers. Away by Yobo, Samba keeps in, PLayed by Reid to Pederson who plays it across. Roberts gets and keep the ball, passed to Reid, who WHips it in to RSC, header JUST WIDEEE.
6th min- Foul by Dunn in midfield.
5th min- First corner cleared but right back to the flag, Peds crosses in again, cleared.
4th min- Pederson with a rip. He’s wearing pederson not gamst. COrner Rovers
4th min- Robbo looking immense in that orange strip. And as I type that, a shot comes in, tricky ooking from about 20 yards, saved and held by Robbo.
2nd min- Good to see Ooijer in there. Rovers pressing up now.
1st min- rovers going left to right. Great looking crowd at Goodison.

0 min- The Rovers come out in their Red and Black Third kits, looking great with the new crown logo. The blue one is kind of pointless when we play the likes of Everton and ManCity.

I am so excited today, I’ll be updating best I can during the whole game: whilst chatting about he game and eating breakfast so bear with me.

Hello Hello Hello:

Team today from Blackburn official text

Robinson
Ooijer
Samba
Nelsen
Warnock
Reid
Dunn
Mokoena
Pedersen
Roberts
Santa Cruz

Brown
Tugay
McCarthy
Derbyshire
Villanueva
Simpson
Treacy