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Rovers/Gunners Clash Live
Rovers' clash with the unbeaten Gunners will be shown 'live' on ESPN Channel this Saturday, March 13 at 2300, Singapore time. The Gunners are yet to taste defeat this season and Rovers are bidding to become the first team to do so. Afterall Rovers are the one who completed The Double over the Gunners last season. Co'mon Rovers, burn the Gunners blue-black!!

Gally Signs
Rovers' exciting striking prospect Paul Gallagher has signed a new contract at Ewood Park. The Scottish sharpshooter has made an immediate impact on Graeme Souness's first team and looks to have a bright future in the game. By signing until 2008, Gallagher has decided to commit his future to the Lancashire outfit.

Rovers Held
Rovers, who have the worst home record in the Premiership, hosted Southamption at Ewood Park. Rovers nearly went a goal down inside the first minute when Michael Svensson powered a header wide from Jason Dodd's corner, but they did not have to wait too much longer to fall behind. After five minutes another Dodd cross was headed down by Beattie and Phillips held off Markus Babbel to slot past Brad Friedel for his seventh goal of the season. Slowly Rovers did haul themselves back into the game, and Paul Gallagher's cross narrowly evaded Brett Emerton before the Australian sent in a shot that Graeme Le Saux did well to block.

Rovers went close again when Jonathon Douglas forced an alert block from Niemi but Saints hit back as the influential Rory Delap saw his header from Fabrice Fernandes' centre tipped over the crossbar by Friedel. Rovers continued to press for an equaliser before the break, but their lack of quality in the final third of the pitch was evident, Gallagher heading wide while David Prutton did well to block Michael Gray's free-kick. It was the visitors who went closest to another goal and doubling their lead, another neat Beattie lay-off setting up Phillips to lash a drive just wide of Friedel's goal.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness was clearly unimpressed at his side's first half display and he took Gallagher and Douglas off at the break, sending on Yorke and Matt Jansen. And Rovers responded to their manager, pressing forward with Martin Andresen volleying just over from 25 yards after Beattie had half-cleared Emerton's corner. They got their goal soon after, Cole taking advantage of a melee in the Saints penalty area to slam in a shot between the legs of Niemi.

Cole was flying, and he went close to a second when he latched onto Jansen's pass and slalomed his way into the Saints area, before his shot was tipped around the post by Niemi. Yorke then misdirected a header off target before Saints responded with Delap's crashing drive bringing a brilliant save from Friedel at full stretch. Rovers then threw everything at Southampton in the closing moments, but Cole and Gray missed the target and they had to settle for a point.

Match Stats	Premiership Week 26, Ewood Park, 28 February 2004
Final Result	ROVERS 1 Saints 1
Rovers (4-4-2)	Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Short, Gray, Emerton, Andresen, Tugay, Douglas (Jansen 45), Cole, Gallagher (Yorke 45). Subs Not Used : Enckelman, Gresko, Todd.
Saints (4-4-2)	Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Le Saux, Telfer, Prutton, Delap, Fernandes (McCann 62), Beattie, Phillips (Pahars 88). Subs Not Used : Higginbotham, Ormerod, Smith.
Scorers	Philips (5), Cole (51).
Booked	Babbel , Dodd .
Attendance	21,970
Referee	Mike Dean (Wirral).

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American Goalscorer
After American Brian McBride snubbed a chance to sign for Rovers, we thought we will never see an American scoring for us. But against Charlton in a thrilling Premiership game at The Valley last night, Rovers' American goalkeeper Brad Friedel scored a goal which seemed to have earned Rovers a hard-earned point, only for Claus Jensen to strike home the winner deep into injury-time. Despite Friedel becoming the first goalkeeper to score this season, Rovers could not avoid yet another defeat.

Charlton, who hasnt won a game since the departure of Scott Parker to Chelsea, took a 2-0 lead into half-time. Charlton Cole and Jason Euell scored in the 10th and 36th minute respectively after embarassing defensive blunders yet again by the Rovers back-four. Jon Stead, who marked his Under-21 debut with an assist during midweek, spurnt a couple of chances during the first half. First, cannoning a shot off the post from 15 yards and then later on, lifting the ball over the goalpost with only Charlton's keeper Dean Kiely at his mercy.

But in the second half, Rovers gave a spirited-comeback by scoring 2 goals towards the end of the match. In the 74th minute, Andy Cole intercepted Radostin Kishishev's back pass and then beat Dean Kiely and Chris Perry before slotting into an open goal. Then in the 90th minute, Emerton's corner was headed away by the Charlton's defence. But it fell straight to Paul Gallagher who faked past Di Canio before droving in a cross-shot which somehow found Brad Friedel. Friedel simply stroked the ball into the net.

Rovers thought they have earned a point against Charlton, but deep into injury-time, Claus Jensen hit the winner with a right-foot volley which Freidel could only help into his own net. Flashbacks of the game (against Chelsea recently) resurfaced. Souness will definitely be looking at the defence again and asking questions about their inability to keep the ball out of the Rovers net towards the end.

Match Stats	Premiership Week 25, The Valley, 22 February 2004
Final Result	Charlton 3 ROVERS 2
Charlton (4-4-2)	Kiely, Kishishev, Perry, Fish (Fortune 15), Hreidarsson, Young, Holland, Euell, Stuart, Di Canio (Konchesky 89), Cole (Jensen 77). Subs Not Used : Royce, Johansson.
Rovers (4-4-2)	Friedel, Babbel, Short, Todd (Yorke 59), Gray, Neill, Flitcroft (Tugay 28), Emerton, Douglas, Gallagher, Stead (Cole 45). Subs Not Used : Enckelman, Andresen.
Scorers	C. Cole (10), Euell (36), A. Cole (74), Friedel (90), Jensen (90).
Booked	-
Attendance	26,332
Referee	U Rennie (S Yorkshire).

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Short Interest
Sheffield United are considering making a swoop for veteran defender Craig Short. The 35-year-old's contract expires in the summer. Baldes's manager' Neil Warnock could make an immediate move for Short should the player negotiate an early release from his Rovers deal.

Young Duo Gets Callups
Jon Stead's flying start to life at in the Premiership with Rovers has earned him a call-up to the England Under-21 squad. While Paul Gallagher was called up by Scotland as Berti Vogts made a number of surprise inclusions in his squad for the friendly with Wales this week.

Stead Goal Denies Magpies
Newcastle surrendered a lead late on once again, as Rovers came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw. Craig Bellamy's effort at the start of the 2nd half looked sure to give Newcastle the win, but new boy Jon Stead popped up 5mins from time to secure Rovers a share of the spoils.

Bellamy's pace has been sorely missed of late by Newcastle and he looked sharp on his first start since overcoming knee surgery and stung Brad Friedel's palms with a low shot early on. Stead scored on his Rovers debut and he almost doubled his tally after Andy O'Brien had gifted possession to the home side, but Shay Given was equal to his low strike. Andy Cole, restored to the team, and Stead were causing problems for the Newcastle defence and only a timely intervention from Alan Shearer stopped Rovers from taking the lead.

Rovers started to assert and Stead looked sure to score on 25 minutes, but he slipped just as a deep cross winged its way towards him at the far post. Newcastle were not without chances, with the excellent Friedel denying Shearer and Gary Speed on four occasions. Speed's first effort from close range looked sure to put Newcastle ahead, but Friedel denied him with his legs and he did so again moments later when tipping the Welshman's shot round the post.

The American acrobatically tipped a Shearer blockbuster round the post and later pushed a header from the former England captain to safety. Newcastle were without the injured Jonathan Woodgate and his organisational skills were sadly lacking as Rovers broke clear down the right on numerous occasions, with Brett Emerton particularly wasteful when chipping a shot wide when well placed and Markus Babbel somehow headed wide from 6 yards. A flashpoint occurred moments before the break when Bellamy went down in a heap following a challenge from Lucas Neill.

Bellamy came out for the second half and showed no ill-effects as he rifled Newcastle in front on 52 minutes. A Laurent Robert long throw caused panic in the Rovers defence and Bellamy pounced to slam home after Shearer's power in the challenge prevented Friedel from making an effective clearance. The goal gave Bellamy real confidence and he went close to doubling his tally on a couple of occasions, shooting wide and later almost netting from out on the wing after beating Friedel to a long ball.

Rovers failed to test Newcastle to the extent they had in the first half but The Magpies' defensive frailties on the left-hand side proved their undoing as a long cross from the flank by Paul Gallagher was slammed home at the far post by Stead. Shearer is going through a rare barren spell and when Friedel clutched onto his injury time shot, the points were shared.

Match Stats	Premiership Week 24, Ewood Park, 11 February 2004
Final Result	ROVERS 1 Newcastle 1
Rovers (4-4-2)	Friedel, Douglas (Gallagher 69), Babbel, Neill, Todd, Emerton, Tugay, Flitcroft, Gray, Stead, Cole (Johansson 90). Subs Not Used : Yorke, Andresen, Enckelman.
Newcastle (4-4-2)	Given, Hughes, Bramble, O'Brien, Bernard, Dyer, Speed, Jenas, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy. Subs Not Used : Elliott, Ambrose, Ameobi, Viana, Harper
Scorers	Bellamy (52), Stead (85).
Booked	-
Attendance	23,459
Referee	M Messias (N Yorkshire).

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Ready, Steady, GO!
Jonathan Stead made an immediate impact on his Rovers debut, scoring the only goal in a crucial victory over lacklustre Middlesbrough at the Riverside. The 20-year-old striker, signed from 3rd Division Huddersfield on transfer deadline day, found the net in the 39th minute, converting the first chance Rovers had. Danny Mills robbed Paul Gallagher down the Rovers left, but succeeded only in pushing the ball across the penalty area to Stead, who calmly stroked a low right foot shot beyond Mark Schwarzer.

Moments later he could have added his second but after shifting the ball onto his left foot in the penalty area he could only prod a tame shot wide of the goal. It was a bold move by Souness to pair two young strikers at the expense of Andy Cole, who was dropped to the bench, and Dwight Yorke - who didnt even travel - but it paid off, as Stead had already shown some neat touches before his goal.

Gaizka Mendieta set the tone for a dismal display in front of goal for Boro after only 3 minutes, racing clear of the Rovers defence before firing a right-foot shot wide of Brad Friedel's left-hand post. The Spaniard tried his luck again after a turgid half hour, striking a left-footed drive cleanly, although Friedel was able to watch the ball safely wide. 2 minutes later Juninho's quick thinking presented Mendieta with another opportunity, but although his shot was on target it lacked menace and Friedel saved easily.

Stead then showed the way to goal as Rovers counter-attacked, before more wastefulness followed from the home side after the break. Joseph-Desire Job, on for the ineffective Massimo Maccarone, saw a shot deflected straight to Friedel from 10 yards, and then did well to tee up Juninho, only for him to send his half-volley spinning over the bar. Mendieta was off target again with a free-kick and he then played in Juninho, who inexplicably shot straight at Friedel when clean through. Friedel came to the rescue again, keeping out Gareth Southgate's close range effort, before palming away Boudewijn Zenden's 30-yard strike, and when Chris Riggott headed wide in stoppage time Boro's chance of salvaging a point was gone.

Match Stats	Premiership Week 24, Riverside Stadium, 07 February 2004
Final Result	Boro 0 ROVERS 1
Boro (4-4-2)	Schwarzer, Queudrue, Riggott, Southgate, Mills, Mendieta (Nemeth 66), Doriva, Juninho, Zenden, Maccarone (Job 45), Parnaby (Downing 45). Subs Not Used : Jones, Cooper.
Rovers (4-4-2)	Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Todd, Short, Gray, Emerton, Flitcroft, Douglas, Gallagher (Jansen 65), Stead (Tugay 85). Subs Not Used : Enckelman, Cole, Johansson.
Scorers	Stead (39).
Booked	Douglas .
Attendance	28,307
Referee	Rob Styles (Hampshire).

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Transfer Window Closes
Jon Stead - Rovers have completed the signing of Huddersfield Town striker Jon Stead. The prolific Terriers marksman has put pen-to-paper on a four-and-a-half year contract at Ewood Park. The fee for Stead will be worth slightly more than £1 million.

Martin Andresen - Stabaek's Martin Andresen has accepted Rovers' offer to join them until the end of the season. The 27-year-old had been in Lancashire earlier this week but flew back to Norway on Friday after passing a medical at Ewood Park but rejecting the club's initial contract offer. However, after rethinking the offer, the Norwegian has decided to link up with Rovers until the summer.

Michael Gray - Former Sunderland defender Michael Gray joined Rovers on a two-and-a-half year contract. The 29-year-old left-back has joined on a free transfer to boost Rovers' fight against relegation.

Martin Taylor - Birmingham City have completed the signing of Rovers defender Martin Taylor for a fee of £1.25 million. Graeme Souness had confessed that 'Tiny' Taylor could be a player that he regrets selling - but nevertheless allowed the powerful 24-year-old back to leave.

Johnson Sinks Rovers
The Roman revolution prevailed over the House that Jack Built yesterday as Chelsea and Blackburn, the clubs who have benefited from English football's two most generous benefactors, met in an open, entertaining match at Ewood Park. Chelsea were indebted to the right-back Glen Johnson for a last-minute winner after it seemed Rovers would salvage an unlikely point in a game they might have lost by three or four goals.

Rovers started at a furious pace and were ahead within three minutes. Markus Babbel rose well at the far post to head a cross from the debutant Michael Gray back across goal where Flitcroft, unmarked, side-footed home from close range. Chelsea gradually began to assert themselves as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink wriggled free down Rovers' left and pulled the ball back into the path of Lampard. What his shot lacked in purity of strike, it made up for in accuracy and bobbled in off the far post.

Chelsea were soon ahead. Tugay gave the ball away and with the Rovers defence caught hopelessly out of position, Petit played in Lampard, who finished with ease. Chelsea began to pass the ball around with aplomb. Twice Adrian Mutu came close to scoring stunning goals, once with a scissor-kick that flew wide and then with a deft chip that floated just off target.

Just when it seemed the game had slipped away from Rovers, they equalised - or so it appeared. With Ewood Park celebrating following Gallagher's deft finish, the linesman's flag correctly gave Chelsea a reprieve. At the other end, Lampard was denied a hat-trick with a header by a stunning save from Brad Friedel. A few minutes later Blackburn were level - but only for a minute as Johnson's fabulous strike condemmed Rovers to their seventh home defeat.

Match Stats	Premiership Week 23, Ewood Park, 01 February 2004
Final Result	ROVERS 2 Chelsea 3
Rovers (4-4-2)	Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Todd, Gray, Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Douglas (Mahon), Yorke (Gallagher), Cole. Subs Not Used : Enckelman, Jansen, Johansson.
Chelsea (4-4-2)	Cudicini, Johnson, Terry, Gallas, Bridge, Lampard, Makelele, Petit (Melchiot 80), Parker (Gronkjaer 69), Mutu (Gudjohnsen 90), Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used : Sullivan, Nicolas.
Scorers	Flitcroft (3), Lampard (25, 35), Gallagher (87), Johnson (88).
Booked	Neill , Tugay .
Attendance	24,867
Referee	Dermot Gallagher (Banbury).

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