The Soccer Blog: Blackburn

Showing posts with label Blackburn. Show all posts

Sunday, 29 July 2012

Best blow for Blackburn

Last Updated: July 29, 2012 4:37pm

Leon Best: Due to undergo a scan on Monday

Summer signing Leon Best has handed Blackburn an untimely injury headache after picking up a knock during a friendly date with AEK Athens.

Best was snapped up by Rovers earlier this summer in a £3million deal with Newcastle United.

He has, however, suffered a setback in his pre-season preparations after being forced off against Greek opposition.

Best lasted just 40 minutes of a fixture at Fleetwood.

The 25-year-old appeared to be in serious discomfort and is due to undergone a scan on Monday to determine the severity of his knee problem.

Best will be hugely disappointed to have picked up a knock, as he was earlier on target against Athens.

He netted Blackburn's second goal of the contest, after another new boy, Nuno Gomes, had nodded them in front.

Athens did pull a goal back 13 minutes from time, but Steve Kean's side held out for a morale-boosting 2-1 success.

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Manchester singer songwriter John Stammers is loving life in the city as a fan of the blue persuasion.

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Sunday, 23 October 2011

Premier League: Blackburn 1 Tottenham 2

Two goals from Rafael van der Vaart condemned Blackburn to another home defeat as Tottenham recorded a 2-1 Premier League victory at Ewood Park.

Despite a strong performance from the home side they lacked quality in front of goal and were punished by two excellent strikes from Spurs’ Dutch forward.

Mauro Formica had got his side back into the game before Van der Vaart struck to seal the points for the visitors.

Despite Blackburn creating some good chances early it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Kyle Walker surged down the right and passed to Van der Vaart, who calmly side-footed the ball into the back of the net.

Gareth Bale was causing problems for Blackburn’s defence, with the Welshman’s low cross finding Emmanuel Adebayor whose shot was well saved by Paul Robinson.

Spurs had been dominating the game but in the 27th minute the hosts got themselves back on level terms when Formica reacted fastest to a scramble inside the penalty area before blasting the ball into the back of the net from 10 yards out.

The visitors began the second half in a confident mood and were twice very close to going ahead in the 52nd minute through Luka Modric and Bale.

Seconds later Van der Vaart doubled his tally with a sublime finish from the edge of the area.

The introduction of Yakubu in the 69th minute seemed to awaken Blackburn and the Nigerian had three good chances to get his side back into the game.

The first came from a low cross but he managed to put his shot wide of the post. He then had two good headed opportunities but he was unable to test Brad Friedel in the Spurs goal.

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Saturday, 7 May 2011

Premier League: West Ham 1 Blackburn 1

Thomas Hitzlsperger helped West Ham keep their slim hopes of beating the drop alive with a late goal in the Hammers 1-1 draw with Blackburn.

Jason Roberts ‘ early strike look to have earned Blackburn all three points, but Hitzlsperger came to the home side’s rescue with a clinical finish in the 78th minute and ensured they still have it all to play for.

Avram Grant’s side will now have to win their final two games of the season against Wigan and Sunderland and hope other results go their way if they are to stay in the Premier League.

For Blackburn they moved a step closer to safety but will still look anxiously over their shoulders as they prepare to face Manchester United at home next weekend.

Blackburn could have opened the scoring after just three minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen fired a shot which took a wicked deflection off Manuek Da Costa and the ball flew inches past the post.

West Ham also came close to breaking the deadlock on five minutes when Manuel da Costa saw his header cleared off the line by Pedersen.

But it was the away side who scored the all important first goal on 12 minutes when Brett Emerton broke away down the right and his cross picked out Roberts, who was totally unmarked inside the box, and he slid the ball home from close-range.

The home fans were silenced and it was going to take a major fight back if West Ham were to retain their top flight status.

Grant’s side did their best to force their way back into the game and came close to grabbing an equaliser on 31 minutes when Wayne Bridge’s cross picked out Demba Ba, whose header flew just wide of the post.

Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson then produced a fine save on the stroke half-time to deny Freddie Sears low shot.

West Ham fans seemed resigned to the drop after they started singing ‘We’re going to Coventry’ midway through the second half.

It could have been a lot worse for the home side after Steven N’Zonzi fired a shot which was well palmed away by Robert Green.

West Ham were handed a major lifeline on 78 minutes when Carlton Cole played the ball into Hitzlsperger and he fired a sweet left-foot shot which flew past Robinson into the corner of the net.

Substitute Robbie Keane blew a golden chance to grab the winner on 87 minutes when Frederic Piquionne’s cross fell to the Republic of Ireland forward, but with the goal at his mercy he somehow failed to connect with the ball.

West Ham remain three points adrift of safety, while Blackburn are three points clear of the drop zone.

Sat 7 May, 2011