BRFCS.COM: BRFCS.COM

After Liverpool's fortunate 2-1 victory over Rovers, Liverpool Manager was his normal gracious self towards Rovers:

Rafael Benitez: "They (Blackburn) have a style and they are a team that plays this way under this manager (Sam Allardyce). We won so we they have to be thinking about whether the style is good or not. Some people have to talk before the press conference or after because it is more difficult for them to do a football job. I think it is a model for all the managers around the world, their style of football, his behaviour. It is the perfect model for all the kids and I'm sure all parents will enjoy this model and encourage their kids to be the same. The style of football, I think, Barcelona are thinking of copying."

Clearly annoyed by this and various other comments that Rafa has made over the last few years, Sam Allardyce responded:

"It was only because Liverpool have a go at me and because I am entitled to respond when I get criticised by Rafa Benitez. If you don't understand that over the last few years you must be deluded. Not this time but many other times I have been criticised personally by the manager - all I said was they got six bookings at Manchester City away so they are digging games out now rather than the flowing football they played last year. We had five bookings and 25 fouls given against us which was, for me, a wrong reflection on how we played. We haven't come here and hung on, we've dominated the game for long periods."

Rovers have announced that the Home game against Manchester United has moved from Saturday 10th April and will now be played as follows:

Barclays Premier League

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United

Sunday 11th April 2010
Kick-off 1.30pm

The game will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Due to Bolton Wanderers’ FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur, please be advised that Rovers Barclays Premier League game, originally scheduled to take place on Monday 22nd February, will now be played as follows:

Barclays Premier League

Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers

Date: Sunday 21st February 2010
Kick-off: 12.00 noon (Live on ESPN)
Venue: Ewood Park

Due to Birmingham City’s continued involvement in the FA Cup, Rovers Premier League game originally scheduled for Saturday 6th March, has been re-arranged and will now be played as follows:

Barclays Premier League

Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City

Date: Wednesday 24th March 2010
Kick-off: 8.00pm
Venue: Ewood Park

Sam Allardyce has confirmed that Benni McCarthy is expected to complete his move to West Ham within the next 48 hours.

In an interview given to the club's official website (www.rovers.co.uk) Allardyce said "I don't know exactly where things are up to, but I do know that he is close to finally becoming a West Ham player, It is a work permit situation that is the only hiccup, but I think that will be overcome in the next day or so".

Sam also confirmed that replacements had been looked at and suggested that the money could be used to strengthen other parts of the team "We are looking at the opportunity to bring another player in if that transfer does go through. When it is final, nailed on, that he has left then we'll try and move as quickly as we can to secure another player. It might not be on the front line".

So it does appear that finally the McCarthy transfer saga is coming to an end.

Rovers have completed their first signing of the current transfer window.

Turkish International Yildiray Basturk has signed initially until the end of the season. The 31 year old playmaker has been signed from Stuttgart.

Talking to the official Rovers website (www.rovers.co.uk) Basturk expressed his delight at signing for Rover "I had contact with Blackburn for three months and I spoke to Tugay and he said it is a very good club and to come here and try the last few years"

Rovers fans will be hoping that Basturk can have the same impact that Tugay had on the club.

Rovers Carling Cup run came to an end after a night of high drama at Villa Park last night.

Trailing 1-0 after the first leg, Rovers faced an uphill task against Villa. However 26 minutes into the game Rovers fans dared to dream as 2 goals from the impressive Kalanic put Rovers on course for an amazing victory. Villa looked nervous and ponderous, whilst Rovers were inspired.

The game changing moment arrived on 30 minutes, Ashley Young's speculative cross was heading towards Nelson, he was pushed from behind by Agbonlahor, inexplicably the referee allowed play to go on and former Rovers Stephen Warnock poked the ball home to draw Villa level on aggregate. Warnock's muted celebration was a credit to him. Things got worse for Rovers on 36 minutes when Samba's rash challenge resulted in him being sent off and Villa awarded a penalty, which was converted by Milner.

The second half began with Villa rampant, they were soon 5-2 as Rovers crumbled and it seemed that this would turn into a real rout. However, Rovers dug deep and goals from Olsson and Emerton made it 5-4 on the night and Villa nerves started to jangle again, alas though as Rovers pushed forward they were hit on the break and Ashley Young finished the tie as contest with a well taken goal.

So a night of high drama see Rovers bow out at the Semi-Final stage again, fans can be proud of the team last night and who knows what could have happened had decisions gone Rovers way in the first half. Congratulations to Villa on reaching the final, they just about deserved to win it over the two legs.

MANAGERS COMMENTS

Sam Allardyce:

"It's a bit difficult to take, scoring four goals and not getting through to the final," reflected Allardyce.
"We were in complete control of the game, and if anybody was going to score again it was us.

"But then the referee allows a blatant foul on Ryan Nelsen to go unpunished, and at this level you have to make sure the referee gets those decisions right.

"We are out of a cup final because of that decision perhaps. It is a major decision that has stopped us having the chance to go to Wembley.

"Whatever anybody might say, we were put in a position we should not have been put in.

"It lifted the crowd, it lifted Villa because they were playing very poorly, and then they are on their game.

"You could look at the fourth goal and say Agbonlahor had two arms on it and deflected it into the net for 4-2.

"Everybody thinks it's over, we're down to 10 men anyway, but then we managed to get back to 5-4.

"But the major part of us not getting through to the final is the referee, no question about it.

"Unfortunately, we have to suffer that. There's nothing we can do about it and we can't go to where we want to go, which is Wembley, and he is the major factor."

"There are obviously some areas where we can shoulder the blame for giving the goals away," added Allardyce.

"We've conceded six goals, and some of those we could have stopped, but the critical stage of the game is there for everybody to see.

"The big problem is that if a big decision goes against you at a critical time in the game, it makes a massive difference."

"It was a gallant effort.

"They didn't feel sorry for themselves and kept going to the very end.

"I've nothing but praise for the way they've applied themselves in the end."

Martin O'Neill:

There were two games to play and I have to say, overall, I thought that we thoroughly deserved to go to Wembley," O'Neill told reporters.

"And I am genuinely delighted for the players. They showed tremendous character to come from two goals down.

"The team really grew up, because that was certainly not the way we planned things to happen," added O'Neill, whose side are now a match away from winning Villa's first major trophy since they last lifted the League Cup in 1996.

"Blackburn gave us a real jolt and we were very nervous and anxious. I don't think we were complacent at all."

After last night's 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa in the first leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Final, Rovers manager Sam Allardyce is hoping for a change of luck. He said: "I don't know what is up with us at the moment. We don't seem to be getting the rub of the green. I am just wondering what I have done in life to deserve such bad luck.

"But we need to keep believing and keep creating chances. It will eventually go our way, I am sure of that. Hopefully we can take encouragement from our second half performance.

"We were nervous in the first half and the quality of the opposition drove us back. We gave away a very poor goal.

"Villa's strength is playing on the break. In the space of a few seconds they scored. We never took up the right positions and paid the ultimate price.

"That made us more nervous and edgy. We put that right in the dressing room at half-time and deserved to pull level. But that's football for you at this level."

Rovers have now gone nine games without a win and face Fulham at Ewood Park on Sunday.

Rovers have confirmed the new date for the 1st leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Final.

The Carling Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg game against Aston Villa to be played at Ewood Park has now been re-arranged to take place on Thursday 14th January and will kick-off at 8pm.



Consequently, our Premier League game at home against Fulham has moved to Sunday 17th January , with a 3pm kick-off.



The Carling Cup Final 2nd Leg game at Villa Park will remain on the 20th January with a 7.45pm kick-off.



Please note that the Premier League fixture at Manchester City will remain on Monday 11th January 2010, 8pm kick-off.

Bad weather has hit Blackburn's semi final against Villa and the game has been called off.

Statement

Rovers claimed a vital point today in an entertaining clash against Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Benni McCarthy gave Rovers the lead on 30 minutes scoring from close range. Wigan came back in the second half and equalised through Hugo Rodallega who powered home a close-range header.

The football on show was not for the purists but neither side were prepared to settle for a point though and a frenetic second-half ensued.

Jason Scotland fluffed a one-on-one with Paul Robinson and McCarthy had an overhead kick saved by Chris Kirkland.

Sam Allardyce felt that Rovers deserved to claim three points "We are sat here hugely disappointed and very down in the mouth in terms of we know we should have had three points to get us that bit further up the league. We've come out here and matched them in every department."

Rovers now face Sunderland on Monday, with the table being so congested a win could see Rovers climb into the top 10, whereas a defeat could see Rovers slip into the relegation zone.