Blackburn Rovers 3 - 1 Newcastle United

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Saturday Dec 01 2007 03:00

Two David Bentley beauties gave Blackburn Rovers a first win in five games to pile the pressure on Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce.Obafemi Martins had headed the visitors in front just minutes after the break, but Bentley conducted the comeback with two delightful strikes from distance, before Tugay added the gloss in time added on.

A lacklustre first half, which Rovers certainly had the better of, ended with neither goalkeeper making a single save.

On 14 minutes, James Milner fired a free-kick into the Rovers wall and Habib Beye blasted just over the bar with the follow-up.

But just a minute later and the home side should have taken the lead. Tugay's threaded pass to Benni McCarthy was flicked through to Roque Santa Cruz, who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, but wide of the left-hand post.

On 25 minutes, Brett Emerton advanced fully 60 yards unchallenged, before blazing just over and on the stroke of half-time, Shay Given's clearance from outside the box was poor, Bentley robbed David Rozehnal of the ball, but his 40-yard strike towards the open goal drifted just wide of the far post.

But just as they did against Aston Villa in midweek, Rovers conceded the opening goal from a set-piece against the run of play.

On 47 minutes, Emerton gave away a foul on the left touchline, Geremi swung in the free-kick and the unmarked Martins glanced a free header in the bottom corner of the net.

But the visitors' lead lasted just seven minutes. Charles N'Zogbia fouled Santa Cruz just outside the box and Bentley curled a sublime free-kick into the top right-hand corner of Given's goal.

Newcastle almost replied immediately, but Brad Friedel twice denied Joey Barton from point-blank range.

With the scores back level, manager Mark Hughes sensed victory and made a trio of attacking substitutions, which paid an almost immediate reward. On 67 minutes, Jason Roberts and Santa Cruz combined well, the ball dropped kindly to Bentley and the England international drilled home his second of the game off the inside of the post.

As Rovers went in search of a third, Emerton struck the same post from the edge of the area, Santa Cruz's follow-up appeared to strike a defender's arm, Steven Reid's shot then looped up to Roberts, who failed to connect under pressure from Given.

Newcastle piled on the pressure, but it was the home side who looked the more likely of adding to their tally. Roberts cut inside two players before stinging the gloves of Given, whilst Morten Gamst Pedersen placed a diving header just the wrong side of the post.

And in the third minute of time added on, substitutes Pedersen and Roberts broke quickly up field and Tugay was left with the simple task of curling the ball in the back of the net with the outside of his right foot.

  • 90
    The whistle goes and Rovers grab all 3 points with 3 goals after going behind early on in the second half, Newcastle though, didn't deserve to lose 3-1, but in the end, their defending cost them dear.
  • 90
    Tuguy wraps up the game in stoppage time! Newcastle were caught with players going foward, and Rovers broke well as Tugy then finishes off the move with a clinical strike.
  • 90
    Tuguy shows his experience as he stays down and forces a break in a play, though replays suggests he may have received an elbow in the face.
  • 90
    There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
  • 89
    Milner is booked for a foul on Jason Roberts.
  • 88
    Rovers get a goal-kick and the home fans are beginning to sing as they believe they've got this game wrapped up.
  • 87
    The ball is put into the box but Viduka cant get onto the end of it and Brad Friedel collects.
  • 86
    The game seems to be dying out as Rovers try to stop the game whenever possible, but Newcastle havent given up yet.
  • 83
    Morten Gamst Pedersen gambles at the Tuguy cross but he heads it just wide.
  • 81
    Milner turns his man and shoots, and warnock makes a great block to stop what could have been the equaliser.
  • 80
    This game really has been the proverbrial game of two halves, as this second 45 is producing so much action, and its still all to play for with ten minutes to go.
  • 78
    Huge appeals for handball from the Newcastle fans as Brett Emerton seems to handle the ball, and Rovers have got away with it there.
  • 75
    This game has certainly risen in tempo, and the defences are becomming more stretched as the game goes on.
  • 73
    Bentley hits the post and somehow Newcastle manage to block a couple of attempts with Njitap Geremi, who's block from Cruz was amazing.
  • 72
    Stephen Carr is replaced by Mark Viduka.
  • 70
    Rovers have done great to come back after going down so early in the second half, but can they complete the job and go on to win the game.
  • 70
    Tuguy is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 67
    Blackburn break and its 3 on 2, Bentley then hits a great shot from the edge of the box after Given had made a good save from Santa Cruz, and Rovers are back in the lead.
  • 65
    Steven Reid repalces Aaron Mokoena.
  • 65
    Martins receives the ball after Samba misses the cross and he heads it over the bar.
  • 62
    Jason Roberts shows great strength against David Rozehnal, but the ref sees it as too exessive and calls for the foul.
  • 60
    Jason Roberts comes on to replace Benni McCarthy.
  • 58
    Morten Gamst Pedersen replaces David Dunn.
  • 57
    David Bentley is booked for a rash foul on Joey Barton.
  • 56
    A scramble in the Rovers box and Barton is guilty of missing a chance from 6 yards out, though Freidel does well to save.
  • 54
    David Bentley then silences the away fans as he scores direct from a free-kick to bring the scores level.
  • 51
    The Newcastle fans are in full voice now, and that goal seemed to take alot out of the Rovers side as they continue to be opened up by a rampant United side.
  • 49
    That was such a great time to score for Newcastle, Rovers though, will be very upset over the bad defending that lead to Martins being able to head home so easily.
  • 48
    Barton is booked for a foul on David bentley.
  • 47
    Obafemi Martins scores! The free-kick is whipped into the Rovers box, and soem static Rovers defending is punished as Martins heads home from close range.
  • 45
    The second half gets underway as both sides will be thinking that whoever scores first will then have a major chance of going on to win the game.
  • 45
    The referee blows for half-time and the players head into the break in a game that has had its moments, but on the whole could improve in the second half.
  • 45
    Habib Beye gives the ball away when Given was out of position, Bentley though fails to get a proper shot on goal and the chance is wasted.
  • 43
    Half-time approaches, and you'ld have to say that Blackburn have had the best chance of the game so far with that 14th minute Santa Cruz one-on-one.
  • 41
    Emerton wastes a free-kick from range as he hits it straight at Freidel with no conviction.
  • 39
    Stephen Warnock defends well againt Martins and breaks down the play after a good through pass from Barton.
  • 37
    The game has lost alot the high temp football that was present in the opening 20 minutes of the game, but the style of football is still at a decent level.
  • 34
    Andre Ooijer is caught in possession, and Butt tries to lob Given, but he fails to produce a good effort and it goes harmlessly to the United's keeper.
  • 32
    Both sides will be happy that they've managed to keep a clean sheet so far considering the recent run for United and wednesday's thrasing by Villa of Rovers.
  • 29
    Smith volley's the ball high over the bar, but he was already flagged offside, Newcastle though will take heart as the move leading up to it was very flowing.
  • 26
    Stephen Carr hasn't played much this season for Newcastle, and Sam Allardyce will be hoping that this doesn't effect his performance this afternoon.
  • 24
    Emerton had options to his left and right as he ran towards the United box, but his decision to shoot is a bad one and the effort goes over the bar.
  • 23
    Stephen Carr replaces Abdoulaye Faye.
  • 20
    There's 2 significant milestones for Blackburn today as Friedel plays his 160th successive appearance while Rovers striker Benni McCarthy makes his 50th Premier League appearance.
  • 17
    This game is very open, almost end-to end, and were still in the opening 20 minutes, this is very promising towards a high scoring game.
  • 14
    Santa Cruz receives a great through ball from McCarthy, Given comes out to stop Cruz, but he puts the ball wide, and that was a great chance for Rovers there!
  • 13
    Milner's free-kick goes into the wall, but Faye hits a decent rebound effort, but the ball goes comfortably over the bar.
  • 13
    Andre Ooijer brings down Alan Smith, and newcastle have a free-kick in a very dangerous spot on the edge of the box.
  • 11
    The game has been played with a very high tempo with some good passing football, and the fans are certainly in good voice.
  • 8
    Emerton takes the resulting free-kick, which was on the edge of the box, but the effort goes straight to Shay Given's arms
  • 7
    Nicky Butt brings down Dunn and is rightly booked.
  • 4
    Bentley shoots on goal, Given stops it, but spills, luckily for United, the keeper can recover the ball before McCarthy can get there.
  • 2
    Shay Given releases a quick ball and Milner breaks for Newcastle, but the move comes to nothing as the ball to Martins is a poor one.
  • 0
    Martin Atkinson is in charge for the game today, and Blackburn are looking for their 50th league win under manager Mark Hughes against a Newcastle side that haven't won in 5 weeks.
  • 0
    Abdoulaye Faye passes a late fitness test on his hamstring and plays, however United are missing Owen, Duff, Ramage & Babayaro as they start with: Given, Beye, Rozehnal, Faye, N'Zogbia, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Martins, Smith, Milner
  • 0
    Ryan Nelsen is suspended for the game today, so Andre Ooijer replaces him at the back alongside Brett Emerton as Rovers start with: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Kerimoglu, Mokoena, Dunn, Santa Cruz, McCarthy

Statistics

Blackburn Rovers
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 21
Offsides 1
Corners 1

Newcastle United
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 12
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 5
Corners 1

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