11 Years ago Tomorrow
Match Reports of Blackburn 3 QPR 0
ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Todd (c), Matteo, Thompson, Tugay, Savage (sub Pedersen 78 mins), Peter, Dickov (sub Kuqi 78 mins), Bellamy. Subs not used: Enckelman, Nelsen, Emerton.
QPR: Royce, Bignot, Milanese, Shittu (c), Rose, Rowlands, Santos (sub Ainsworth 55 mins), Cook (sub Donnelly 75 mins), Baidoo, Furlong (sub Moore 75 mins), Langley. Subs not used: Evatt, Cole.-
QPR Official Site
Rangers bowed out of the FA Cup with their heads held high at Ewood Park.
Two first half goals and a late, late third gave former Premiership champions Blackburn Rovers a 3-0 win in front of a poor home crowd of just over 12000.
Rovers skipper Andy Todd handed the hosts a 17th minute lead when he stooped to head home past Simon Royce from the edge of the six yard box.
And Craig Bellamy made it two on 36 minutes, volleying home from the edge of the penalty box to leave Rangers facing an uphill struggle at the break.
Bellamy capped a fine solo performance with a third four minutes from time, as Rangers' workmanlike second half display finally came unstuck.
Ian Holloway's men were by no means overawed by their Premiership opponents, with Shabazz Baidoo and Paul Furlong each testing Brad Friedel in the first half.
Georges Santos replaced Gareth Ainsworth in the Hoops midfield, as Ian Holloway opted for a more defensive line up.
Blackburn born Gareth Ainsworth was the unlucky player to miss out, while Paul Furlong replaced the injured Marc Nygaard in attack.
Rangers survived an early fourth minute scare when Mauro Milanese brought David Thompson crashing to ground. Yet despite vocal appeals from the Blackburn players for a penalty, referee Mr Marriner adjudged the foul to have taken place outside the box and from the resultant free kick, Rovers debutant Sergio Peter fired wide of Simon Royce's right had post.
The Hoops harried and pressured every loose ball in the opening ten minutes, with Richard Langley and the recalled Santos coping well with the imposing threat of Rovers' central midfield duo of Robbie Savage and Turkish international Tugay.
And their impressive start was almost rewarded on 12 minutes when Andy Todd's weak back header allowed Paul Furlong a sighter on goal, but his shot lacked power and Brad Friedel saved comfortably.
Furlong turned provider on 13 minutes, releasing Shabazz Baidoo. The teenage striker escaped the attentions of Todd and fired in a ferocious near post shot which forced Friedel into a fine save at his near post.
At the other end, Simon Royce had to be at his agile best to tip round Paul Dickov's volley after Lucas Neill's speculative through ball caught the Rangers defence napping.
Rangers didn't heed the warning though and from the Sergio Peter's resultant corner, Todd buried his back post header beyond the exposed Royce.
Blackburn continued to pose the greater attacking threat, with Neill evading the attentions of Matthew Rose before powering a half volley into the arms of Royce.
Marcus Bignot was forced to clear from under his own crossbar on 34 minutes, as the Rovers front pairing of Craig Bellamy and Dickov continued to cause problems.
Bellamy soon showed his undoubted class when he spectacularly volleyed home Peter's cross from the edge of the 18 yard box to make it 2-0.After a slow start to the second half, Rangers introduced local lad Ainsworth at the expense of Santos.
And the Blackburn born midfielder was soon on the attack, leaving two men in his wake before forcing Friedel to claim a cross at his near post.
Rangers were enjoying a decent passage of play and Shittu fired over a long range free kick on 59 minutes, before Lee Cook fired wide six minutes later.
Savage should have made it 3-0 on 65 minutes, when having been sent clean through by Tugay, the Welshman showed poor composure, blasting his shot high and wide of the target.
Ainsworth was clearly relishing playing against his former club and with just 19 minutes left on the clock, the right sided midfielder fired in a long range half volley which Friedel did well to palm to safety.
Baidoo wasted a golden opportunity to set up a grandstand finish when he dragged his 15 yard effort wide of the target with just 11 minutes on the clock.
The final nail in the Rangers coffin arrived on 86 minutes when Bellamy latched onto Peter's deft through ball before chipping the advancing Royce to claim his ninth goal of the season in all competitions.
So Rangers' FA Cup run ends for another year, but it certainly wasn't for the want of trying and much credit should be given to the players who refused to lie down despite trailing early on.
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Khivanishvili, Todd, Matteo, Thompson, Tugay, Savage (Pedersen 77), Peter, Bellamy, Dickov (Kuqi 77).
Subs: Enckelman, Nelson, Emerton.
Scorers: Todd 17, Bellamy 36, Bellamy 86
Bookings: Matteo 70, Neill 87
QPR: Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Rose, Milanese, Rowlands, Langley, Santos (Ainsworth 55), Cook (Donnelly 75), Baidoo, Furlong (Moore 75).
Subs: Cole, Evatt.
Bookings: Milanese 67
Referee: A M Marriner Attendance: 12705
www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~765045,00.html
BLACKBURN OFFICIAL SITE
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE - HUGHES
Hughes was pleased his side got the job done
MARK Hughes was delighted as Rovers avoided a potential banana-skin and safely secured their passage into the next round of the competition.
A second strike of the season from Andy Todd was followed by a brace from Craig Bellamy as Rovers brushed Rangers aside.
"I thought we were very good in the first half and got a couple of goals, the second half we weren't as fluent at times," said the Rovers boss.
"Credit to QPR they had a go in the second half, pushed up and tried to make it more difficult for us, so we had to respond to that.
"We were able to relax when the third went in.
"We were very professional today, we go the job done and we were able to rest a few players which was good given the schedule we have.
"Overall, pleasing."
The draw for the fourth round takes place on Monday lunchtime at 1.30pm, Rovers are ball number 15.
www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10303~765058,00.html
BLACKBURN OFFICIAL
IT was a debut to remember for Sergio Peter as Rovers booked their place into the fourth round of the FA Cup courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.
The nineteen year old German had a hand in each of Rovers' goals as they brushed aside the challenge of the Championship side without ever hitting the heights of previous matches.
Andy Todd gave Rovers the lead from a Peter corner on 17 minutes, then twenty minutes later Bellamy added a second courtesy of a Peter cross, and the same duo combined to make it three four minutes from time.
With an eye on the games against Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers next week, Mark Hughes made five changes for this cup clash but nevertheless a strong squad was put out against Ian Holloway's side.
Tugay challenges Furlong for the ball
Sergio Peter was given his debut in a Rovers shirt, the nineteen year old German impressive on his Ewood bow, Craig Bellamy got his first start since early December whilst Andy Todd, Tugay and David Thompson returned to the starting line-up.
The opening quarter was decidedly low key, Dickov and Furlong both spurned half-chances, but the game sprung into life on sixteen minutes, Lucas Neill played a ball over the top for Bellamy to chase, the Welshman couldn't reach the ball but Paul Dickov certainly could, slamming the ball goalwards, but 'keeper Simon Royce did well to push the shot around the post.
But all Royce's good work was undone by poor defending when from Sergio Peter's corner kick, Andy Todd arrived unmarked at the back post to head down and into the back of the net.
Royce then denied Lucas Neill at the near post, then the veteran goalkeeper did enough to put off Craig Bellamy when the Welshman was through, but with the Rangers goalkeeper bearing down on Bellamy, he put his effort a foot wide.
Bellamy sees his shot nestle into the corner of the net
The second goal eventually came on 36 minutes and again it was the German who made the goal, beating his man on the left before firing over a cross that Craig Bellamy showed immense skill to swivel and volley with his left foot into the corner of the net.
Rangers had rarely threatened in the first period, the final action of the first half saw Langley put a free-kick well over the bar.
No changes at the start of the second half as Rovers still remained in second gear content to pass their way around the visitors, but chances were at a premium at either end.
Peter flashed an effort wide after an intelligent one-two with Paul Dickov, whilst Robbie Savage saw an effort blocked after a Bellamy pass.
Rangers came into the game more and more as the game wore on, the introduction of Blackburn-born winger Gareth Ainsworth providing more attacking options and it almost paid off. Lee Cook had more time and space available to him when he ran onto a misplaced pass by Tugay but he hit his effort well wide.
A day to remember for the young German
Sergio Peter put in a man of the match performance and almost set up another goal when he bamboozled his marker before cutting inside to Bellamy, it was put onto his fellow countryman Robbie Savage but he blazed his effort wide.
Ainsworth himself forced a fine save from Brad Friedel, hitting the ball from the right, the Rovers goalkeeper had to dive to his right to push the effort away.
The Baidoo wasted an opportunity when put in by substitute Donnelly but the Hoops' striker put his effort wide.
Craig Bellamy scores his second of the game
Rovers closed the game out and got their third with four minutes remaining, Sergio Peter cutting inside fed Bellamy who took the ball wide before clipping it over goalkeeper Royce to seal the victory.
It was everything you could wish for on a debut performance from Sergio, the only thing it lacked was a goal for the young German.
ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Todd (c), Matteo, Thompson, Tugay, Savage (sub Pedersen 78 mins), Peter, Dickov (sub Kuqi 78 mins), Bellamy. Subs not used: Enckelman, Nelsen, Emerton.
QPR: Royce, Bignot, Milanese, Shittu (c), Rose, Rowlands, Santos (sub Ainsworth 55 mins), Cook (sub Donnelly 75 mins), Baidoo, Furlong (sub Moore 75 mins), Langley. Subs not used: Evatt, Cole.
Booked: Matteo, Neill (Rovers), Milanese (Queens Park Rangers)
Attendance: 12,705
Rovers World subscribers can get all the post match reaction from today's game on Monday's edition.
www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10303~32333,00.html
SPORTLING LIFE
Blackburn 3 QPR 0
Craig Bellamy showed no signs of his hamstring problems to help steer Blackburn into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
The Wales striker took his tally for the season to nine goals with a superb brace against the Coca-Cola Championship side.
Bellamy extended Blackburn's lead after Andy Todd had opened the scoring to leave the visitors facing an uphill battle they never looked like conquering.
It was just the performance manager Mark Hughes was looking for ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United on Wednesday.
The added bonus for Hughes was the display of 19-year-old German midfielder Sergio Peter, who was handed his first start and had a hand in all three goals.
There was a moment of danger for QPR after three minutes when Mauro Milanese brought down David Thompson on the edge of the area.
Peter showed good technique to whip in a dangerous free kick that went just wide of the far post.
Thompson then delivered a good cross from the right but goalkeeper Simon Royce was able to make the interception.
A wayward header by Todd put the home side in trouble in the 12th minute when he directed the ball into the path of Paul Furlong.
However, he failed to get any power on his effort and goalkeeper Brad Friedel was able to boot it to safety.
Rangers took heart from this and Shabazz Baidoo raced forward a minute later only to see Friedel turn away his shot at the near post.
Blackburn took the lead in the 16th minute after Royce did well to parry a close range half-volley from Paul Dickov.
Peter swung in the corner from the right and Todd, unmarked at the back post, sent a downward header beyond the Rangers goalkeeper.
Blackburn kept up the pressure and the visitors were being continually stretched at the back, Danny Shittu and Matthew Rose having their work cut out against Dickov and Bellamy.
And it was Bellamy who extended Blackburn's lead in the 36th minute with his eighth goal of the campaign, sending a superb volley beyond Royce and into the corner following a cross from Peter.
Scotland striker Dickov then picked up a loose ball in the 50th minute and released Peter on the left.
Bellamy raced into the area in anticipation of the cross but instead Peter tried his luck on goal and his effort went well wide of the target.
Rangers were struggling to get back in the game. Martin Rowlands found space 20 yards out in the 55th minute but saw his effort blocked by Zurab Khizanishvili.
Dickov then tried to release Bellamy but the move broke down when he was tripped by Rose.
Rose then showed good awareness to intercept a pass from Tugay to Bellamy in the 63rd minute.
Blackburn were playing some good football with Tugay pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
Robbie Savage should have added a third for Blackburn but sent his effort wide of the target from a good position.
Rangers sub Gareth Ainsworth almost pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute but Friedel did well to parry his 25-yard shot to safety.
Then Baidoo scuffed a shot from close range wide of the target before Bellamy scored his second of the game in the 86th minute with a cool finish after a through ball from Peter.
www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/01/07/SOCCER_Blackburn.html
