Rovers v LCardiff - FA Cup Replay - Match Report

Following a 1-1 draw in Cardiff in which neither side looked like winning, a replay was required at Ewood Park. Rovers have been in great form recently - our record of shutouts is looking formidable and is building the base for a few tight wins, such as the ones against Bolton, Charlton and Pompey. Cardiff brought a drunken, rowdy crowd who were prepared to sing all game (although there weren't 3000 as promised), whereas Rovers once again had a poor crowd as a result of some scandalous ticket prices. In honesty, the performance was not great. We started the better of the two teams, and Gallagher had a shot over before we took the lead. Neill advanced down the right, cut inside and slipped the ball to Gallagher whos neat touch rolled the ball into the path of an onrushind David Thompson who smashed an unstoppable shot past Warner. This gave Blackburn the ascendancy and Thommo in particular was prepared to shoot from anywhere. However, as the game wore on, Cardiff came more and more into it. Kavanagh had a stinging low drive saved by Friedel before finally they grabbed an equliser. Neat interplay allowed the dangerous Jobi McAnuff to slip past a slack Neill and blast the ball past Friedel from a tightish angle. Rovers failed to take the game back to Cardiff, but went ahead agains with a bit of a freak goal. Thommo chipped the ball into the area for the onrushing Gallagher who had beaten the offside trap. He unged for the ball but failed to make contact, but the bounce totally baffled Warner who could only watch the ball agonisingly float in at the far post. The half closed out naturally, with Rovers never totally comfortable. The crowd got their first exclusive Savage interview as a Rovers player. He was keen to stress that the main reason he joined Blackburn was Mark Hugh.....being closer to his parents. He promised to give it his all, and I can't see him being anything other than a hit with the Blackburn faithful. An early goal was needed to be comfortable, and superhuman goal machine MGP duly obliged by wrapping a good cross into the net in devastating fashion. His celebration in which he jumped into the crowd (not due to his momentum) should have seen him booked really, but it was great to see him take the applause. I think, at that moment, he was truely accepted, and the roar that greeted his name on the Tannoy matched this. What should have been a routine exercise in defending a lead turned into a slog when Cardiff pulled one back. They had a side full of big lads who caused us problems with corsses and set plays. James Collins bundled home after a scramble to give them hope. I thought I saw a handball, but I'll reserve judgement until I see a replay. The last 25 minutes were basically all Cardiff. Friedel made some good saves, but still they came at us. McAnuff had plenty in his locker, and Neill looked second rate all night against him. Friedel also wasn't completely confident with crosses, and twice he parried into dangerous situations. Cardiff had a shout for a penalty which seemed rightly denied by the ref. The double substitution stemmed the flow somewhat. The ineffective Tugay and a tiring Gally were replaced by Reidy and Nissa. Nissa moved to centreback, Mokoena into the centre of midfield, Reid out to the right, Emerton across to the left, MGP up front, Friedel to left back and John Curtis to sweeper, in one of the most confusing tactical switches ever. This added a bit more steel, but Cardiff were still guilty of missing some guilt-edged chances. If the game had gone to extra time I don't think Blackburn could feel harshly done to. As it was, the result has moved us into the next round of the FA Cup and into a mouthwatering tie against Colchester. Neil Danns awaits us. Match report written by Bellamy11

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Matteo, Emerton, Tugay (Johansson 60), Thompson, Pedersen, Dickov, Gallagher (Reid 61). Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Stead, Johnson. Booked: Dickov, Neill. Goals: Thompson 9, 32, Pedersen 47. Cardiff: Warner, Weston (Vidmar 51), Collins, Gabbidon, Barker, Langley, Kavanagh, Inamoto (Ledley 76), McAnuff, Lee, Thorne (Campbell 62). Subs Not Used: Alexander, Bullock. Booked: Gabbidon. Goals: McAnuff 24, Collins 54. Att: 9,140. Ref: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).

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