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Romanian Delight Rovers are set to beat a number of clubs to the signing of Romanian star Adrian Ilie. Ilie is currently without a club at present after leaving Alaves in the summer and he would be able to sign immediately on a free transfer. The 29-year-old has flown into England to hold talks over a possible move to Ewood Park and a deal could be wrapped up in the next week. Thommo Out One of Rovers' midfield generals David Thompson is likely to be out for the rest of the season after a recent knee operation. That is going to be a major blow to Rovers as Rovers are now attempting to get their season back on track. Join Friendster An account for Singapore Rovers Supporters has been created by Chew. If you are currently on Friendster.Com, simple add brfc_singapore@yahoo.com to your list. In this way, you can keep in contact with the fellow Rovers fans in Singapore. Unlucky Rovers Rovers could have taken something from the game at Old Trafford on Saturday as they were denied a second half goal from former Red Devil, Dwright Yorke. The goal was ruled offside by the linesman. By then Rovers were already down 2-0 no thanks to Ruud Van Nistelrooy's 12th goal of the season and Brazilian Kleberson's first ever goal in a red shirt in the first half. The Red Devils were cruising then. Whatever Souness drilled into the heads of the Rovers players during the half-time talk certainly worked. He replaced the ineffective Matt Jansen and Steven Reid and on came Nils-Eric Johansson and Paul Gallagher. Almost immediately, Rovers started playing as if Old Trafford was their home ground as they dominated Man United throughout the early period of the second half. Gallagher certainly brought life back into the Rovers side as Tim Howard spilled a shot from the Scottish youngster. Then came the denial of Yorke's goal. Despite that, Rovers continued to press forward and they deservingly pulled one back from the hardworking Brett Emerton who was diligently played through by Gallagher. But that was all Rovers could take away from Old Trafford as Rovers failed to take advantage of United's late nerves. Match Stats Premiership Week 13, Old Trafford, 22 November 2003 Final Result Man United 2 ROVERS 1 Man United (4-4-1-1) Howard, G.Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Kleberson, Keane, P.Neville, Fortune (Giggs 85), Bellion (Ronaldo 73), van Nistelrooy (Forlan 89). Subs Not Used: Butt, Carroll. Rovers (4-4-2) Friedel, Todd, Short, Babbel, Gresko, Emerton, Ferguson, Flitcroft (Baggio 78), Reid (Johansson 45), Jansen (Gallagher 45), Yorke. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Taylor. Scorers Van Nistelrooy (24), Klebersonl (38), Emerton (62). Booked Ferguson Attendance 67,748 Referee M Halsey (Lancashire). Updated by Jeffrey on 24 November 2003 at 0000. Live Screening The match against Man United at Old Trafford will be telecasted live on 22 November (This Saturday) at 8 pm. There will be a Rovers get together for the live screening. We will meet at Cafe Epicure at 48 Prinsep Street. The match will start at 8 pm. For those who want to meet up before heading down to the cafe, please meet at Dhoby Ghaut (N-S line) control station at 7.30pm sharp. Street Soccer Competition The 5-aside Street soccer competition will take place 17 December at St Wilfred Sport Complex. Each supporters club is allow to field a maximum of two teams, with eight registered players per team. There will be a registration fee of $100.00 per team. The dateline for registration is 30 November. If any of you out are keen to represent your favourite club in this competition, do feel free to email Thomas or Chew. The dateline for finalising the teams will be on 23 November. Updated by Jeffrey on 16 November 2003 at 2200. Rovers Edged Past Toffees Rovers finally moved out of the bottom three with a hard-fought victory over Everton at Ewood Park. Early goals from Markus Babbel and Dwight Yorke got them off to a flying start. Everton came back with a goal from Tomasz Radzinski and threatened to steal a point in the dying stages. Rovers went into the game without a goal in 274 minutes of Premiership football. But within 13 minutes they had scored twice as Everton's defence was given a torrid time. It was Babbel's first goal for Rovers and he nearly got his second with a header from a similar position that Martyn tipped onto the bar and out for a corner. Rovers then got the second goal when Emerton swung in a cross from the left that found the head of Yorke and he powered it past Martyn. Overall Rovers thoroughly deserved the long-awaited 3 points that lifted them out of the relegation zone. Souness's suggested trip to Scotland for a short break certainly worked wonders. Lets hope Rovers will get back to their winning ways again. Way to go, Rovers! Match Stats Premiership Week 12, Ewood Park, 10 November 2003 Final Result ROVERS 2 - Everton 1 Rovers (4-4-2) Friedel, Neill, Gresko, Flitcroft, Jansen (Baggio 78), Babbel, Reid, Todd, Yorke (Gallagher 46), Emerton, Ferguson. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Taylor, Tugay. Everton (4-4-2) Martyn, Radzinski, Campbell, Kilbane (McFadden 46), Naysmith (Jeffers 81), Gravesen, Yobo, Nyarko (Unsworth 46), Linderoth, Clarke, Hibbert. Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Chadwick. Scorers Babbel (6), Yorke (13), Radzinski (49). Booked Gresko , Flitcroft , Ferguson , Campbell , Linderoth Attendance 22,179 Referee P Dowd (Staffordshire) Updated by Jeffrey on 13 November 2003 at 1635. Hughes Wanted Rovers are the latest Premiership club to be linked with Wales manager Mark Hughes. Hughes is also interesting former club Man United and is on the shortlist of Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Press reports yesterday suggested Blackburn's board had discussed the possibility of replacing under-fire manager Graeme Souness with Hughes if results don't improve in the coming weeks. Dynamic Duo Returns Youngsters Jonathan Douglas and Neil Danns have both returned to Ewood Park after completing their 3-month loan spells with Blackpool. Both players have been regulars in the Seasiders' team since the start of the season, and Douglas in particular impressed their manager Steve McMahon. Both of them are expected to play for Rovers' Reserves against Bolton's Reserves at Morecambe on Thursday. Enckelman Bid Failed Rovers' hopes of a loan move for Aston Villa's 26 year-old Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman were dashed by the FA Premier League. Souness wanted to sign Enckelman on loan as cover for Brad Friedel while Alan Kelly recovers from knee surgery. However, FA blocked the move, leaving only untried German keeper David Yelldell as cover at the club. Souness Gets Backing Despite Rovers' dreadful season so far and languishing at the 19th spot after a run of 5 consecutive league defeats, Souness has the backing of ex-Rovers Kevin Gallacher. He believes the club should stick with Souness and is convinced Souness will get it right eventually. While, Dwright Yorke pleaded with the Blackburn board not to sack under-fire manager Graeme Souness. (what do you think?) Win Club Manager Game Official management games for the 2003-4 season are about to be released. At last your club has its very own Champion Manager style game, packed with stunning features and realistic situations for you to deal with. If you think you are a better manager than Graeme Souness, this is a game not to be missed. To win this game, simply click here. Updated by Jeffrey on 05 November 2003 at 2130. Foxes' Late Show Condemned Rovers Ex-Rover Marcus Bent and Steve Howey scored as Leicester condemned Rovers to their 5th consecutive league loss. The Foxes scored with their only two attempts at goal to secure a valuable three points that lift them above Leeds and Rovers in the Premiership table. Rovers only had one shot on target throughout the whole game, but Cole's shot was denied by Ian Walker's superb goalline save. Rovers also had a Yorke's goal ruled out for offside and a penalty waved off after Andy Impey apppeared to block Vratislav Gresko's cross using his arm. With 15mins left, Leicester stunned Rovers by taking the lead. Muzzy Izzet's free-kick was guided home by Bent, bending his right leg around Gresko and deftly side-footing past Brad Friedel. Steve Howey then sealed the game with 7mins left, bundling the ball home from short range after Matt Elliott headed the ball into his path. (more) Match Stats Premiership Week 11, Walkers Stadium, 02 November 2003 Final Result Leicester 2 - ROVERS 0 Leicester (4-4-2) Walker, Impey, Sinclair (Elliott 71), Izzet, Gillespie (Thatcher 60), Ferdinand (Dickov 66), Scowcroft, Stewart, Howey, McKinlay, Bent. Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hignett. Rovers (4-4-2) Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Todd, Gresko (Reid 81), Filtcroft (Tugay 78), Ferguson, Thompson, Emerton, Cole, Yorke. Subs Not Used: Yelldell, Taylor, Jansen. Scorers Bent (75), Howey (82). Booked Emerton , Dickov , Howey Attendance 30,975 Referee Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire) Updated by Jeffrey on 04 November 2003 at 1855. Rovers Trio Facing Bans Andy Cole is facing a three game ban for his sending off at Southampton last weekend which will see him sidelined for the games against Everton, Man Utd and Tottenham. Lucas Neill will be forced to sit-out two games for his sending off in the Carling Cup defeat against Liverpool and will miss the Man Utd and Spurs games also. David Thompson now has five yellow cards following his booking against Charllton which carries an automatic one game ban and he will therefore miss the Everton game. 7-Goals Triller Emile Heskey's two second-half headers Wednesday gave Liverpool a 4-3 victory at Ewood Park(not again?!?) Rovers drew first blood with a excellent Dwright Yorke header. But Murphy replied with a penalty after Neill got his marching orders after a trip on Florent Sinama-Pongolle. Heskey scored both headers in the 49th and 61st from inside the box, each time beating Brad Friedel. Heskey could have had his third in the 75th, but Friedel stopped him on a penalty attempt diving to his left, and then thwarted him again as he tried to kick in the rebound. Australian Harry Kewell got the fourth in the 79th with Barry Ferguson and Dwight Yorke scoring late for Blackburn. It was Liverpool's victory on 13th September in a Premiership game, which began the current rot at Blackburn, and this latest defeat made it six losses in eight matches in all competitions. (more) Match Stats Carling Cup 3rd Round, Ewood Park, 29 October 2003 Final Result ROVERS 3 - Liverpool 4 Rovers (4-4-2) Friedel, Neill, Babbel, Taylor, Gresko (Johansson 84), Reid (Gallagher 82), Ferguson, Tugay, Thompson (Emerton 59), Cole, Yorke. Subs Not Used: Jansen, Yelldell. Liverpool (4-4-2) Kirkland, Biscan, Henchoz, Hyypia (Riise 45), Traore, Le Tallec, Gerrard (Hamann 81), Murphy, Diouf, Heskey, Sinama Pongolle (Kewell 45). Subs Not Used: Finnan, Dudek. Scorers Yorke (35, 90), Murphy (pen 41), Heskey (49, 61), Kewell (79), Ferguson (81) Booked Neill Attendance 16,918 Referee Mike Riley (W Yorkshire) Updated by Jeffrey on 01 November 2003 at 0010.