Blackburn 3-1 Wigan: 10-man Rovers Prevail (with highlights)

By: Jim | March 22nd, 2008

Jason Roberts and RSC A strong, solid performance at Ewood Park today has given the Blackburn Rovers all three points against Wigan. Rovers got on the scoreboard first with a goal by Roque Santa Cruz in the 11th minute. A shot by David Bentley was parried by Wigan’s Kirkland. The parry feel right in front of Santa Cruz who continued his run to follow up the shot, and he calmly headed it past a scuffling Kirkland.

Both teams were reduced to ten men by the end of the game, however the Rovers very own Christopher Samba saw red in the 16th minute after bringing down last man Emile Heskey. Referee Mike Dean stuck to the letter of the law and gave the Congolese a straight red, though Heskey could have been all by himself and he still would have gone down in the box. Perhaps rash but given none the less, The penalty was converted just past a diving Friedel, who guessed correctly, by Marlon King in the 17th minute.

After being reduced to ten, the Rovers did not stop their free flowing and attacking play. Reid moved to RB while Ooijer moved to CB. The Rovers played in a 4-3-2 type formation for the remainder of the game and continuously sought to pressure and attack. It was here Bentley really stood out. His presence on the ball as well as the passes and plays he linked up proved vital as the game progressed. Rovers certainly had more of the chances in the first half with Kirkland being called into action more then once with help from the post on one occasion. The game took a delay near the end of the first half when Erik Edman headed away a Jason Roberts header and landed awkwardly on his left leg and had to be stretchered off. With five minutes added on, Blackburn sought no complacency. Jason Roberts finished from ten yards out right at the 45 minute mark courtesy of a Santa Cruz flick. The teams entered the dressing room with Rovers up 2-1.

The second half saw much of the same. The game was stopped by fouls from both teams and while the game was aggressive, it was never violent. Just past the hour mark in the 63rd minute, Bentley broke free down the wing after a timely interception by Zurab Khizanishvili. With just Roberts in the box, Bentley waited for support and up came a charging Santa Cruz. The England international played a brilliant ball in and Santa Cruz headed it home with authority to seal the win for Blackburn.

The numbers game was set level in the 69th when Wigan’s Wilson Palacios, already on a yellow and having been warned numerous times for past fouls, was shown his second yellow and a red by Mike Dean. From then on out Wigan hardly made any attemot forward or even had a good look at the ball, with Rovers dominating possession. With the three points in the bag, Blackburn can now look to the next tie against Reading, who are coming off of a 2-1 win against Brum today. Blackburn now sit at 49 points with Aston Villa and Man City, with Pompey only on 50. The push for Europe is in full force. Until next time, Up The Rovers!

Highlights: