Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn 2 Sunderland 1: Extra special as McCarthy puts Rovers through
Benni McCarthy, ever the man for a dramatic finish, popped up with weary Blackburn [LNB]three minutes away from a penalty shoot-out to head his team into a fifth-round tie against Coventry.[LNB] Giss a hug: Rovers boss Sam Allardyce looks uncomfortable as Benni McCarthy celebrates his goal [LNB] The South Africa striker was left out in the cold at the start of a frustrating season as then manager Paul Ince decided the veteran was worth only a place on the bench.[LNB] Villa 3 Doncaster 1: Carew shines against Rovers[LNB]Forest 2 Derby 3: Clough pride as Rams cut down Forest[LNB]Rovers boss Allardyce tells Santa Cruz: You can go if you help us stay up[LNB]BLACKBURN FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB]But under Sam Allardyce, a manager who prides himself on his man-management skills, McCarthy has bounced back to the kind of predatory form he hopes will win him a place in his country's home World Cup campaign next year.[LNB]McCarthy has pilfered six goals in the nine games since Allardyce stepped in to replace Ince and try to steer Blackburn away from their relegation struggle, but it is safe to assume he did not celebrate any of the others as he did this one.[LNB]He had to come off the bench for his moment of glory, Roque Santa Cruz claiming the first 71 minutes of action. It was a winner that owed something to Carlos Villanueva'ssuperbly-flighted free-kick in arguably his best game for Rovers, and something to McCarthy's own knack of timing his move to perfection as the defenders stepped up.[LNB]The upshot was that McCarthy had an uncontested header at his mercy, looping the ball over the helpless Craig Gordon, who was little short of magnificent in Sunderland's[LNB]goal after 10 weeks out with a fractured ankle. [LNB]The striker dashed for the Blackburn bench, jumped into the stand to hug several teammates sitting in the back seats and finished with a playful pat on the back for his beaming boss. [LNB]Allardyce could have been forgiven for wishing that this had been a contest for Barclays Premier League points. He said: 'Benni's change has come aboutbecause he's scored a few goals and started a few games. He'd been frustrated by his lack of starts, but we've got three quality front men and all are contributing. [LNB]'It shouldn't have been in doubt, the chances we created. Craig Gordon pulled offsome unbelievable saves and we missed some sitters. I was wondering if we'd ever score one, never mind two.' [LNB] Bring on Coventry: Benni McCarthy is all smiles after netting Blackburn's winning goal[LNB] Blackburn's first goal did not arrive until they were trailing to an opportunist finish fromNorthern Ireland striker David Healy, who whipped a seventh minute shot across PaulRobinson after Daryl Murphy's effort was blocked. [LNB]It was only Healy's third start since his £1.5million move from Fulham [LNB]and gave Sunderland renewed confidence after being held goalless in the first game, and they were a little unlucky to be hauled level after 37 minutes. [LNB]Aaron Mokoena, McCarthy's international skipper, caught a 30-yarder with some venom and the ball took a crucial deflection off defender Anton Ferdinand onits way into the net.[LNB]BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Robinson 5; Simpson 5, Khizanishvili 6, Nelsen 5 (Ooijer 86min), Givet 6; Dunn 5 (Tugay 60, 6), Villanueva 7, Mokoena 6, Treacy 6; Santa Cruz 5(McCarthy 71, 6), Roberts 6. [LNB]Booked: Simpson, Treacy, Mokoena. [LNB]SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon 8; Collins 5, Ferdinand 6, Kay 5 (Bardsley 56, 6), McCartney 6 (Luscombe 106); Edwards 5, Leadbitter 6, Reid 6, Malbranque 5 (Yorke 75, 6);Murphy 5, Healy 6. [LNB]Booked: Kay, Leadbitter.[LNB]Man of the match: Craig Gordon.[LNB]Referee: Phil Dowd.[LNB] Villa 3 Doncaster 1: Carew shines against Rovers[LNB]Forest 2 Derby 3: Clough pride as Rams cut down Forest[LNB]Rovers boss Allardyce tells Santa Cruz: You can go if you help us stay up[LNB]BLACKBURN FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB]SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
