- Pedersen (15), Tugay (71)
- McBride (49)
- Date:2005-08-20
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Ewood Park
- Attendance:16953
- Referee:Webb, H
Live Commentary
94mins
Rovers take all three points as they shade this entertaining match. Tugays' thunderous volley on 70 mins the difference between the two sides
85mins
Lucas Neill rattles the cross bar from 25yards. Goal kick to Fulham
79mins
Fulham make a double change. Collins John on for Tomasz Radzinski , while Heidar Helguson replaces Brian McBride
78mins
Robbie Savage lucky to stay on the field as his high foot brings down Papa Bouba Diop
72mins
Robbie Savage recieves his second booking of the season aftre a needless rash challenge
70mins
Kerimoglu Tugay gives Rovers the lead with a fine 18yard volley from a Morten Gamst Pedersen corner
63mins
A fine save from Tony Warner from a Brett Emerton low near post drive
60mins
Steven Reid given yellow card for a nothing tackle on Luis Boa Morte
58mins
Foul on Brian McBride results in free-kick to Fulham 30 yards from goal
54mins
Lucas Neill breaks from the half-way line and tries to chip Tony Warner, narrowly flies over the bar
51mins
A fourth corner in succession for Rovers reults in cleaance once again by Moritz Volz
50mins
Near post inswinging corner headed behind by Moritz Volz.
50mins
Steven Reid bursts forward resulting in a Rovers corner
47mins
Niclas Jensen provides the cross for Brain McBride to steer the ball past Brad Friedal.
46mins
Fulham get the second half underway as they look to improve on their first half performance
45mins
Morten Gamst Pedersen gives Rovers the lead into the break, crashing the ball into the roof of the net on 15mins. Balckburn have had the lions share of the game with Fulham looking to try to get forward with more conviction
44mins
Another crunching tackle by Dominic Matteo relieves Steed Malbranque of the ball after more good work from Fulham
41mins
Fulham look to push forward, but good work from Dominic Matteo eases the pressure for the home side
40mins
Morten Gamst Pedersen over hits a cross as an out-stretched Shefki Kuqi just fails to reach the ball
35mins
Papa Bouba Diop heads goalwards from free kick, Brad Friedel producing an impressive save to turn the ball over
33mins
Fulham win a free-kick on the edge of the area as Tomasz Radzinski hits the ground after a dubious tackle from Steven Reid
30mins
Luis Boa Morte with a reckless challenge on Lucas Neill results in free-kick to Rovers, although no booking
27mins
Fulham with their backs to the wall as an impressive Blackburn outfit continue to apply pressure
25mins
Shefki Kuqi fires just wide of the Fulham goal from 20 yards after good work from Morten Gamst Pedersen
23mins
Luis Boa Morte climbs all over Kerimoglu Tugay and concedes a free-kick on half way
19mins
Steed Malbranque volley from 35 yards well wide of target
17mins
Ryan Nelsen tackle on Luis Boa Morte results in a Fulham free-kick just inside their own half
15mins
Pederson crashes the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards, after good work from Shefki Kuqi down the left
14mins
Corner to Fulham in their first real attack, headed clear by Steven Reid
11mins
Morten Gamst Pedersen cuts inside and fires just wide of Tony Warner's left hand upright
9mins
Rovers free kick on half-way line. Taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen
7mins
Rovers break with Morten Gamst Pedersen who pulls the ball back to Brett Emerton on the edge of the area who could only steer his shot into the arms of the of the Fulham keeper
5mins
Morten Gamst Pedersen concedes free-kick in opposing box
3mins
Brett Emerton finds Morten Gamst Pedersen with a fine ball down the wing, resulting in Blackburn corner
1mins
Steven Reid caught offside after good work from Shefki Kuqi
0mins
Shefki Kuqi gets the game underway for Rovers
Match Preview
Blackburn Rovers host Fulham at Ewood Park, with both teams desperate to avoid a repeat of last season's struggles to avoid relegation.
Rovers made a poor start to their campaign, going down 3-1 at newly-promoted West Ham while also having Paul Dickov sent off for a late challenge on Paul Konchesky.
As a result, Dickov will miss this fixture due to suspension, leaving new signings Craig Bellamy and Shefki Kuqi to again lead the attack.
Rovers' capitulation at Upton Park highlighted the importance of Ryan Nelsen to their defence, with the New Zealand international absent due to a knee injury.
Boss Mark Hughes was far from happy with his side's performance, blasting: "There were lots of things that weren't as you would hope, the only comfort you take is the fact that it is early in the season, and we can only go onwards and upwards."
Fulham began their campaign with a goalless draw at home to Birmingham City, with loan goalkeeper Tony Warner guiding the Cottagers to a clean sheet.
Warner had been drafted in from Cardiff City as cover for injury victims Mark Crossley and Jaroslav Drobny and proved an able deputy.
Luis Boa Morte and Steed Malbranque also showed up well, following a summer that has seen both players linked with moves away from the club.
Manager Chris Coleman has options in attack and may decide to throw summer arrival Heidar Helguson into the fray in place of either Brian McBride or Tomasz Radzinski.
One man who won't feature is Steve Marlet, who has finally left the club to join Wolfsburg in Germany.
advertisement
advertisment
Match Report
Stunning volleys from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Tugay got Blackburn Rovers up and running for the season at home to Fulham.
Tugay had only been brought into the team in place of the injured Aaron Mokoena and his second-half strike is already an early contender for goal of the season.
With Paul Dickov suspended and Craig Bellamy missing with a thigh injury, Shefki Kuqi made his league debut at Ewood Park on his own upfront.
Fulham registered the first shot on goal, a swerving Luis Boa Morte effort from distance, but it was Rovers who dominated all of the opening exchanges - with Pedersen, Kuqi and Brett Emerton all going close early on.
Rovers continued to press, with Pedersen and Emerton supporting Kuqi at every opportunity.
And on 14 minutes, Rovers took the lead with undoubtedly the move of the game. Tugay started it off deep inside his own half, before the ball was played out wide to Lucas Neill. The Australian exchanged passes with Emerton and Steven Reid, before finding Kuqi down the right.
The Finnish international's cross to the back post was met by Pedersen on the run and without breaking stride, the Norwegian lashed home the volley off the underside of the bar.
Fulham's best chance of the half arrived ten minutes before the break. A Niclas Jensen free-kick from the right, following a foul by Tugay, was met with a powerful header by Papa Bouba Diop, which forced a smart reaction save from Brad Friedel.
Like their visit to West Ham last week, Rovers were caught napping right at the start of the second half. Boa Morte won a free-kick for the visitors on the left, which was played quickly to Jensen in oceans of space.
As the ball was played in, Brian McBride stole in front of his marker Andy Todd to steer the ball past Friedel. In the second half, chances were few and far between with Kuqi and Pedersen coming closest form consecutive corners.
And minutes later Rovers were back in front. Neill dinked a clever ball over the top for Emerton, whose volley was palmed around the post.
From the resulting corner Pedersen floated the ball out to the edge of the box where Tugay was stood waiting to smash home the volley 20 yards out.
Neill saw an effort come back off the crossbar in the 86th minute as Rovers held out for the win.
Man of the Match: Lucas Neill The Australian wing-back gave an energetic display, having a hand in both Rovers goals before seeing a late effort hit the woodwork.
Blackburn Rovers Team
Blackburn Rovers | Fulham |
Corners
| 8 | 1 |
Fouls
| 26 | 14 |
Goal attempts
| 16 | 8 |
Shots off target
| 7 | 4 |
Offsides
| 3 | 2 |
89mins
Fourth official signals 4 minutes of added time