• Date: Sat 01 December 2007
  • Venue: Ewood Park
  • Ref: Atkinson, M
  • Attendance: 27,477
Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers

Bentley (54)

Bentley (67)

Tugay (90)

3 - 1

Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United

Team Lineups

Blackburn Rovers

Brad Friedel
Christopher Samba
Stephen Warnock
Aaron Mokoena (Steven Reid, 66)
Andre Ooijer
Brett Emerton
David Bentley
Kerimoglu Tugay
David Dunn (Morten Gamst Pedersen, 58)
Benni McCarthy (Jason Roberts, 61)
Roque Santa Cruz

Newcastle United

Shay Given
David Rozehnal
Habib Beye
Njitap Geremi
Joey Barton
Nicky Butt
Charles N'Zogbia
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (Stephen Carr, 24)
James Milner
Obafemi Martins
Alan Smith


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

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
Goal
 

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
Yellow Card
 

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
Substitution
 

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
Substitution
 

Tuguy is booked for unsporting behaviour.

67
Goal
 

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
Substitution
 

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
Substitution
 

Jason Roberts comes on to replace Benni McCarthy.

58
Substitution
 

Morten Gamst Pedersen replaces David Dunn.

57
Yellow Card
 

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
Goal
 

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
Yellow Card
 

Barton is booked for a foul on David bentley.

47
Goal
 

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.

Second half
 

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.

Half time
 

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
Substitution
 

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
Yellow Card
 

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.

Kickoff
 

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.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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