Match Report
| Blackburn Rovers | Blackburn Rovers |  |  | Northampton Town | Northampton Town | ||||||||||||||||
| Computer Player | Computer Player | Computer Player | Computer Player | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jonas Bierhoff | J. Bierhoff |  | 69 | G |  | 1 | |  | G | 63 |  | Alun Whelan | A. Whelan | ||||||||
| Abel Neves | A. Neves |  | 69 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 58 | | Nigel Mcgovern | N. Mcgovern | |||||||||
| Ricardo Andres | R. Andres |  | 67 | D | | | 3 | | D | 50 | | Dean Pearce | D. Pearce | ||||||||
| Brenny Stroeve | B. Stroeve |  | 63 | D | | 4 | | D | 50 |  | Craig Hansen | C. Hansen | |||||||||
| Edgar Postiga | E. Postiga | | 51 | D | | 5 | | M | 64 | | Marc Lumsdon | M. Lumsdon | |||||||||
| Arturo Ramirez | A. Ramirez | | 73 | M | | 6 | | M | 55 | | Titus Scales | T. Scales | |||||||||
| Mark Talan | M. Talan | | 68 | M | | 7 | | M | 54 | | Neil Law | N. Law | |||||||||
| Craig Hendry | C. Hendry | | 56 | M | | 8 | | M | 50 | | Chris Richards | C. Richards | |||||||||
| Alassan Dabo | A. Dabo |  | 73 | A | | 9 | | A | 59 | | Syd Hunt | S. Hunt | |||||||||
| Artur Lopes | A. Lopes | | 69 | A | | 10 | | A | 56 | | Anthony Bower | A. Bower | |||||||||
| Stuart Wainwright | S. Wainwright | | 45 | A | | 11 | | A | 45 | | Harvey Atherton | H. Atherton | |||||||||
| Warren Pearson | W. Pearson | | 42 | D | | 12 | | G | 56 | | Les Pallister | L. Pallister | |||||||||
| Alan Pallister | A. Pallister | | 41 | M | | 13 | | G | 50 | | Oleg Dixon | O. Dixon | |||||||||
| Greg Joseph | G. Joseph | | 34 | M | | 14 | | G | 46 | | Colin Kanu | C. Kanu | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by Graphic Ace |
Match Report
The sky is dark and overcast here at Ewood Park where Blackburn Rovers play host to Northampton Town. Its a sell-out today with the 5,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Blackburn Rovers are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Northampton Town appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Nigel Ferdinand.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Blackburn Rovers are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Northampton Town appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Nigel Ferdinand.
0.00
0-0Blackburn Rovers kick off and get the match underway!
2.19
0-0Ricardo Andres flicks a high pass forward. Alassan Dabo comfortably collects the pass. Alassan Dabo shoots from long range. The keeper is more than a match for it. Great keeping!
9.51
Artur Lopes flicks a high pass forward. Arturo Ramirez collects the pass. Arturo Ramirez finds some space and shoots from distance but is denied by Alun Whelan. Excellent save.
10.54
0-0Arturo Ramirez comes in with a late challenge on Neil Law. Arturo Ramirez is warned by the referee! Neil Law hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
26.52
1-0Brenny Stroeve runs forward with the ball. Brenny Stroeve controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Artur Lopes. Artur Lopes runs straight at the defence! Artur Lopes comes through the middle and smashes a shot from 11 yards out. The ball takes a deflection leaving Alun Whelan with no chance!! Goal for Blackburn Rovers!
30.53
Arturo Ramirez passes the ball forward to Mark Talan. Mark Talan plays a quick one-two with Artur Lopes and rushes in on goal... Mark Talan takes a shot at goal but somehow Alun Whelan manages to keep it out.
36.33
Brenny Stroeve threads the ball through to Mark Talan. Mark Talan threads the ball through to Stuart Wainwright. Stuart Wainwright controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal which easily beats the keeper. Goal!!
42.43
2-0Ricardo Andres threads the ball through to Alassan Dabo. Alassan Dabo flicks a high pass forward to Artur Lopes who brings the ball under control. Artur Lopes passes the ball forward but Alassan Dabo is offside!
45.00
Ricardo Andres flicks a high ball forward to Mark Talan who takes it down. Mark Talan flicks a high pass forward. Alassan Dabo collects the pass. Alassan Dabo kicks a strong pass forward to Artur Lopes but the referee indicates it's offside!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half
Both teams emerge for the second half. Blackburn Rovers appear unchanged since the first half. Northampton Town also appear unchanged since the first half.
45.00
Northampton Town kick off and get the second half underway!
59.54
2-0Brenny Stroeve chips the ball to his team mate, Arturo Ramirez. Arturo Ramirez finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
60.20
2-0Blackburn Rovers have made 3 substitutions with Warren Pearson replacing Edgar Postiga, Alan Pallister replacing Mark Talan and Greg Joseph replacing Artur Lopes .
63.28
Anthony Bower chips the ball to his team mate, Syd Hunt. Syd Hunt finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball flies into the top corner - goal!!
66.34
Ricardo Andres threads the ball through to Greg Joseph. Greg Joseph makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Stuart Wainwright. Stuart Wainwright plays a scrappy one-two with Craig Hendry and advances towards the goal... Stuart Wainwright shows great control and tries a shot on goal but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
69.58
Craig Hansen brings the ball forward. Craig Hansen flicks a high pass forward. Anthony Bower controls it well on his chest. Anthony Bower shoots from distance but it flies just wide!
72.50
Marc Lumsdon threads the ball through to Harvey Atherton. Harvey Atherton whips in a cross ball towards Anthony Bower. Anthony Bower makes a convincing header but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
73.35
Alan Pallister passes the ball forward to Arturo Ramirez. Arturo Ramirez whips in a cross ball towards Stuart Wainwright. Stuart Wainwright gets a glancing touch on the cross ball but somehow Alun Whelan manages to keep it out.
75.42
Craig Hendry hits a low pass to Stuart Wainwright. Stuart Wainwright shoots from distance but he skews it badly. The ball flies well over the bar!
79.40
Alan Pallister hits a low pass to Greg Joseph. Greg Joseph plays a scrappy one-two with Alan Pallister and stumbles forward towards the goal... Some awkward footwork from Greg Joseph provides some space. He stabs the ball goalward. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
84.37
2-1Alan Pallister advances with the ball. Alan Pallister passes the ball forward to Alassan Dabo. Craig Hansen hacks Alassan Dabo from behind! Alassan Dabo appeals for a penalty! The referee just ignores him!!
90.00
The referee blows for full-time
Match Statistics
Goals
2
1
Shots on Target
6
1
Shots off Target
4
2
Offsides
3
2
Fouls
1
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
52.9%
47.1%
Play Area
27.1%
44.7%
28.2%
Scorers
| Artur Lopes 27 Stuart Wainwright 36 | Syd Hunt 63 |
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Brenny Stroeve of Blackburn Rovers |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Jonas Bierhoff (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | Abel Neves (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Ricardo Andres (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Brenny Stroeve (DEF) | 9 | |
| 5. | Edgar Postiga (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Arturo Ramirez (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Mark Talan (MID) | 8 | |
| 8. | Craig Hendry (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Alassan Dabo (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Artur Lopes (ATT) |  | 9 |
| 11. | Stuart Wainwright (ATT) | | 8 |
| 12. | Warren Pearson (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Alan Pallister (MID) | 7 | |
| 14. | Greg Joseph (MID) | 6 | |
| 1. | Alun Whelan (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Nigel Mcgovern (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Dean Pearce (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Craig Hansen (DEF) | 7 | |
| 5. | Marc Lumsdon (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | Titus Scales (MID) | 8 | |
| 7. | Neil Law (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Chris Richards (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Syd Hunt (ATT) | | 8 |
| 10. | Anthony Bower (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Harvey Atherton (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Les Pallister (GK) | 0 | |
| 13. | Oleg Dixon (GK) | 0 | |
| 14. | Colin Kanu (GK) | 0 | |