Match Report
 today's match is sponsored by Team Photoshop |
Match Report
It is a thoroughly wet and miserable day here at Ewood Park where Blackburn Rovers play host to Birmingham City. A crowd of 17,323 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Both Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City are lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Billy Todd.
The pitch is in good condition.
Both Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City are lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Billy Todd.
0.00
0-0Blackburn Rovers start the game by kicking off the first half!
2.11
0-1Simon Lampard chips the ball to his team mate, Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta sees Rafael Martinez just inside the box and quickly passes the ball. Rafael Martinez shoots from just inside the box. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Birmingham City!
6.16
Frank Melchiot makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk decides to run forward with the ball. Joe Vonk whips in a cross ball towards Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa makes a deft header. The ball flies into the top corner - goal!!
16.04
0-2Florian Bierhoff hacks Andy McNeill from behind! Florian Bierhoff is warned by the referee! Andy McNeill stretches but gets up unharmed.
20.30
0-2Andy McNeill controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Robert Brighton. Robert Brighton lofts in a cross ball towards Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta directs the ball goalwards with his head. The keeper is on top of it. He makes it look easy!
28.23
0-2Angelo Rivalta barges into Diogo Fernandes. The referee calls over Angelo Rivalta and shows him a yellow card! Diogo Fernandes hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
30.21
Andy McNeill controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk skips past Marcello Di Biagio! Joe Vonk cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal. Darius Palmer gathers the ball up comfortably. Top class keeping!
33.03
0-2Florian Bierhoff decides to run forward with the ball. Florian Bierhoff finds some space and shoots from distance but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
34.19
0-2There is some beautiful football being played out on the pitch today.
36.08
Andy McNeill comes in with a late challenge on Marcello Di Biagio. The referee calls over Andy McNeill and warns him to calm down! Marcello Di Biagio hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
38.07
Joe Vonk comes in with a late challenge on Marcello Di Biagio. The referee calls over Joe Vonk and shows him a yellow card! Marcello Di Biagio stretches but gets up unharmed.
42.26
0-2Jonathan George flicks a high pass forward. Daniele Formon collects the pass. Daniele Formon knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
45.00
Frank Melchiot clumsily knocks into Daniele Formon. Frank Melchiot is given a warning by the referee! Daniele Formon runs off the knock.
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. Birmingham City also appear unchanged since the first half. The Blackburn Rovers players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.
45.00
Birmingham City kick off!
47.10
Kevin Carrick passes the ball forward to Florian Bierhoff. Florian Bierhoff threads a neat ball through to Tim Hapgood. Tim Hapgood makes a probing pass between the defence to Marvin Monk. Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Marvin Monk provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal but it is tipped over by Bart Grot.
48.36
0-2Florian Bierhoff takes a quick corner, playing it short to Ben Finney. Ben Finney comes in from the left and smashes a shot from 11 yards out but it flies just off target!
53.50
Frank Melchiot makes a simple pass to Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill flicks a high ball forward to Robert Brighton who takes it down. Robert Brighton shoots from distance but it whistles just wide of the post!
57.40
Simon Mcgovern makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Daniele Formon. Daniele Formon flicks a high pass forward. Tim Hapgood collects the pass. Tim Hapgood knocks in a cross ball towards Jonathan George. Jonathan George gets a glancing touch on the cross ball but Bart Grot reads it well. Fabulous stop!
60.15
0-2Blackburn Rovers have made a substitution with Phil Rufus replacing Simon Mcgovern and appear to have rearranged themselves into a 3-4-3 formation. Birmingham City have made 2 substitutions with Trevor Gascoigne replacing Kemal Wilcox and Kieron Bridge replacing Angelo Rivalta .
61.19
Marcello Di Biagio hits it upfield. Marvin Monk knocks in a cross ball towards Daniele Formon. Daniele Formon gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. The keeper is more than a match for it. Great keeping!
67.02
Joe Vonk hacks Jonathan George from behind! The referee calls over Joe Vonk and warns him to calm down! Jonathan George hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
72.15
Diogo Fernandes flicks a high ball forward to Ben Finney who takes it down. Ben Finney sees Daniele Formon in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Daniele Formon whips in a cross ball towards Ben Finney. Ben Finney outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. Bart Grot gathers the ball up comfortably. He makes it look easy!
73.34
Rafael Martinez plays the ball forward to Kieron Bridge. Kieron Bridge shoots from 20 yards. It curls slightly but Darius Palmer manages to gather it easily.
77.35
Birmingham City have made a substitution with Jamie Owen replacing Rafael Martinez .
78.45
Simon Lampard sees Jamie Owen in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Jamie Owen runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Jamie Owen finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
79.53
0-2Seeing a gap ahead, Jonathan George plays the ball forward to Phil Rufus. Phil Rufus passes the ball forward to Ben Finney. Ben Finney takes a shot at goal. The ball cannons off Simon Lampard, going wide.
81.11
0-2Florian Bierhoff takes the corner kick, swinging the ball in towards the far post. Jamie Owen gets to the ball and clears it up field.
85.46
Ben Finney comes in with a late challenge on Atam Hill. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Atam Hill hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
87.49
Phil Rufus makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Marvin Monk. Marvin Monk shoots from 20 yards. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Well saved!
89.59
Jamie Owen plays the ball forward to Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Darius Palmer who gathers it comfortably.
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
0
2
Shots on Target
6
5
Shots off Target
2
2
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
2
5
Yellow Cards
1
2
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
50%
50%
Play Area
26.4%
47.2%
26.4%
Scorers
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Bart Grot of Birmingham City |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Darius Palmer (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Kevin Carrick (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Marcello Di Biagio (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Diogo Fernandes (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Simon Mcgovern (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Jonathan George (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Florian Bierhoff (MID) | 7 | |
| 8. | Daniele Formon (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Tim Hapgood (ATT) | 6 | |
| 10. | Ben Finney (ATT) |  | 5 |
| 11. | Marvin Monk (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Phil Rufus (MID) | 6 | |
| 13. | Leon Keegan (ATT) | 0 | |
| 14. | Jamie Walker (DEF) | 0 | |
| 1. | Bart Grot (GK) | 9 | |
| 2. | Simon Lampard (DEF) | 7 | |
| 3. | Frank Melchiot (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Kemal Wilcox (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Atam Hill (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Rafael Martinez (MID) |  | 9 |
| 7. | Andy McNeill (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Joe Vonk (MID) | | 7 |
| 9. | Cristiano Barbosa (ATT) | | 9 |
| 10. | Angelo Rivalta (ATT) | | 6 |
| 11. | Robert Brighton (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Trevor Gascoigne (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Jamie Owen (MID) | 7 | |
| 14. | Kieron Bridge (ATT) | 6 | |