[Archived] Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United

[tonygreenbank]

Absolutley disgusted with that last 13 minutes from Rovers, you can't blame United for doing that, they KNOW a point's enough for them.

We don't yet know whether a point today was enough today. It would have been fine if not strictly in the spirit of the game to do that had Blackpool and Wolves been losing or even drawing but I presume we knew they were winning. If we lose unluckily next week we might be wishing we'd tried in those last 13 minutes.

And if you're Chelsea and the Premier League what do you make of those shenanigans? Not what the game's about at all.

As for the rest of the game, one of the worst I've seen, us camped on the edge of our own area for 90 mins but still losing out to a very dodgy penalty imo. Not seen the replay but in real time the United player appeared to have put the ball out or at least had no chance of getting it. Therefore not a penalty imo.

I`m usually quite a rational poster but this comment has to be one of the silliest I`ve read for a long time. I came away today feeling so relieved and proud of the performance; a bonus point and confirmation to me that the team has got bundles of energy and belief to play the last 3 pressure games and get 5 points which to all intents and purposes will be enough to survive. To call it "one of the worst I`ve seen" is just plain ridiculous. We are more than capable of a point at Wolves; why assume all the others are going to win or be better than us.Today was a repeat of what Barcelona did against Levante to win their league and Coleman was saying at kickoff that he wouldnt be surprised if that`s what would happen at Ewood and he was proved right.We1ve drawn against the Champions and people still complain......!!

[BuckyRover]

They're all over the LT site, calling Kean a "Donut" (sic) for not going after Utd.

FFS.

I was really worried when they got the equaliser. I thought if they came at us they would be able to beat us. I was so happy when I saw they were happy to take the point.

I would much rather have to attack against Wolves than against Utd.

I'm shocked at Revidge's opinion. It would have been lunacy to risk losing the point. As someone pointed out earlier I would not want to go into the Wolves game knowing we conceded a late goal against Utd. It would have been a lot worse.

[Tom]

Just watching MOTD, what a disgrace that Salgado was booked and not the United crew, how the hell can Rio and Vidic have a clear view from there?

[47er]

Just want to say ------heroes all today. So very proud of them. Would single out Samba, Jones(P) and Emerton.( Has he ever played better?)

Just a tragedy that our player of the year made his worst mistake of the season just after Ollson had hit the post. I'm convinced we would have won had that one gone in.

Was it a penalty? Sure it was. The kind we wouldn't have got! Robbo had seen him wide, didn't need to make the challenge.

A real sickener to see Wolves and Blackpool win in style--the beauty of playing teams who've nothing to play for eh?

Up to us alone now although West Ham and Birmingham can still help! Got to be happy about that game, we really have given it our all the last few games.

[Torgeir]

Still not a pen though, same as rhe blackpool inw, ball was dead

I'm curious about the rules here, is that actually in the book? If the ball is dead you can make a challenge on a player? Robbo made contact, it was poorly timed and the ball was going out, but for me it still has to be a pen.

Good performance by the lads today again. As long as we manage to ride the first 15-20 minute wave like we did against Man City and against United today we're always in for a chance. I thought we looked like we were in control in the second half and created some decent chances. How many finishes on goal did ManU have?

I got nervous we'd lose when we had to make our changes, but "luckily" the visitors were happy with a point. Hopefully they'll want to have a good showing in their final home game next week...

[RoyRover]

I thought we played very well today. We restricted United and were full value for the point. Hoillet, Jermaine Jones, Emerton and Phil Jones all played very well. Jason Roberts was useless again today and needs to be sold as soon as the transfer window opens. There was one point in the first half where he tried to dribble the ball and ended up knocking it about 5 yards in front of himself right to a United player. I thought that it was a penalty and would have been livid if we hadn't have got it.

Despite the fact that Hernandez was never going to get it, as far as I could tell the ball was just in play when he was bought down. I'm not entirely sure of the rules, but even if the ball isn't in a play and a striker is running through the penalty area after an attack and the goalkeeper kicks him, would that be a penalty, because the player has been fouled in the penalty area? Does the ball have to be in play? Is that why penalties aren't given when before a set piece and a defender is pulling or dragging an opponents shirt in the box, the referee will just warn them, rather than give a penalty and if they persist, when the free kick, corner or throw in is taken, the penalty (in theory as it rarely happens) is given? I remember years ago when Leeds were playing United and Fabian Barthez gave away a penalty when he a tripped a Leeds player up in the box, despite the ball being cleared up to the other end of the pitch. Was this a penalty because the ball was in play?

[Hughesy]

A few vids I took today for those that couldnt attend

Rovers Huddle

Rooneys Penalty from the Bburn End

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFFtiUUef-g

The final whistle

[Grabbi Graeme]

Although Robinson went to ground, you have to look at the fact that Hernandez was already going down before contact was made, he is well trained then,following in the footsteps of Ronaldo and Nani.

The post match press conference was good, Fergie turned up which is very rare as he usually sends Mike Phelan down to do it, but I guess being as they won the title he thought he would turn up.

Very easy questions I thought though, nobody asked him about the penalty and I just got the feeling the journos were restricted in what they wanted to ask, they were told before hand that they could'nt ask him about the FA charge.

Kean was positive about the result and said that although in the last ten minutes the fans wanted to attack, he didn't want to try and nick a goal as if Utd broke then Rovers would struggle as Utd had 4 players camped in the Blackburn half.

He was asked if he was positive about staying up, he said "yes very positive."

[Fraserkirky]

what about the 50/50's today? I thought we won the battle today and showed determination and grit. Well done guys. In particular J.Jones, some of his passing was a little crazy but the pace and toughness of this guy in our midfield is something I wanna see next year.

See a couple of posters stating that if the penalty hadn't been given they would have scored anyway, what a load of rubbish. Apart from the Nani header and the shocking first 10mins by us, United were pretty awful and didnt test Robinson at all really.

How good did Samba and Jones look together at the back? Wow!

[J-2]

Happy with the point today. Very unhappy with the penalty (will get to that in a second).

But I think some of you need a little perspective on the matter...because that point has in all likelihood kept us in the PL. Had we already been mathematically safe, then sure...send everyone forward guns a' blazing and try to get all three points since you have nothing to lose. But we weren't in position to do that, and now it would really take a rather unlikely permutation of events to cause our relegation.

As far as the penalty, the whole incident was absolutely sickening. The linesman's verdict was somehow a major factor in the final decision, even though he didn't really have a great view of the play. Hernandez's intention from the very beginning of the play was to try to draw a cheap call...he didn't kick the ball into another postal code right before going down because he was fouled or because he suddenly suffered from a lack of touch. He kicked the ball away and forced himself to fall over Robbo in order to draw a call...that's it. A case can not possibly be made that he had possession of the ball, so if any foul should have been called, an indirect free kick for obstruction was it. In the end, it really seemed Dowd awarded the penalty for no other reason than Ferdinand and Vidic stormed up and demanded he do so. I guess both of them have the eyesight of hawks to have been able to know with such unmistakable certainty that a penalty was such an obvious decision. Bunch of f'ing cheats. Reminded me why I never liked them. Hope Barca rout them in the CL Final.

[AggyBlue]

Although Robinson went to ground, you have to look at the fact that Hernandez was already going down before contact was made, he is well trained then,following in the footsteps of Ronaldo and Nani.

Robbo should know better, he's not wet behind the ears, it was a poor error of judgment. The kid played for a pen and Robbo obliged.

[Exiled_Rover]

I believe Man Utd will end the season in style at Old Trafford, and Berbatov, Scholes, Carrink, Anderson and Fletcher will be given time to play the game so I still think Blackpool will at best get a draw.

The main concern is the game between Wigan and West Ham but with Parker back for West Ham this could be to nervy for Wigan.

I say that West Ham, Wigan and Blackpool will go down.

Don't they have the Champions League final midweek? Ferguson will probably rest his starters.

[Stevo]

I believe it's a week after the Blackpool game, I may be wrong though...

[joey_big_nose]

Me Steve Kean you are a disgrace to this club.

Giving up trying for a win and ending up with a point that may well see us get relegated. Sums you up you failure.

You horrible, horrible man.

Get out of my town and my club you slimy pr!k.

The last 15 minutes was Keiths best ever by the way.

He made no mistakes at all.

Totally bizarre opinion this. Rovers were excellent I thought for the first 70 mins and I was exceptionally impressed with Kean's tactics, organisation and motivational skills. All of them were spot on.

The only issue I have with Kean are the substitutions which again wee very very odd. I suppose it might be because we just didn't have much available on the bench, but from where I was sat neither Hoilett nor J Jones looked tired. Samba was injued right?

To be completely honest I am beginning to come round to the idea of Kean staying on as manager next season. There has been a massive improvement in the team over the last two or thee months.

[RevidgeBlue]

We1ve drawn against the Champions and people still complain......!!

I don't understand your post at all.

What does that matter if we are relegated in a week's time? Will we wish we had taken those last 13 minutes a bit more seriously then?

I don't EXPECT all the other teams to win or for us to go down. I think we'll stay up. But results could possibly conspire against us.

Would you also then be happy if we were drawing against Wolves with say 20 minutes to go and like today both sides stood in their own halves for the rest of the game watching the other side pass the ball to each other, (thinking a point will more than suffice)

Then Wigan and Blackpool unexpectedly pop in late winners and us and Wolves are gone. Briliant eh! Not at all likely to happen but you never know in football.

Back to yesterday, there's surely a happy medium between giving up and watching them pass the ball about and being completely gung ho and reckless and throwing a point away.

Making a legitimate attempt to win the ball back off them and trying to make the most of any opportunities that might have arisen as a result would have helped. No need to be completely reckless though.

[RevidgeBlue]

P.S. Having seen it on TV I still don't think it was a penalty. The United player had completely lost control of the ball and it was headed out of play. Whether it was still "in play" for a millisecond at the point Robinson made contact should be irrelevant. Common sense should (and usually does) prevail.

Quite agree Robbo was rash and should never have given the ref a decision to make (or refer) though.

[Paul]

I am not using a pseudonym on this site. I work in the Jack Walker Upper, (right, Blackburn End). I strongly suggest anyone who has complaints should contact the club to make a formal complaint. I will gladly comply.

If this was the four fans who chanted "champions" just before being ejected I think you handled the situation very well. It happened three rows directly behind me. Until that point no one knew they were Utd supporters.

I thought we performed well and a point against Utd has to be positive. However a lot of things happened yesterday which left me very unhappy.

Shame on the FA for playing the cup final on a league day

Shame on Utd and Rovers for giving up playing. The object is to win especially in our position with results going against us. Drawing at Wolves is not a given.

Shame on the BBE fans booing Keith Andrews.

Shame on the fans behind me who sit on their hands every week, do nothing to support the team and then chase Utd fans out pouring venom at the stewards and the fans.

Disgusted with the media who almost ignored the importance of this game to the relegation battle and our club.

Another bit of football died yesterday.

I shall beat Wolves, I hope we try to win for 90 minutes.

[RovertheHill]

Excellent post. There are a lot of numpties on here who know as much about football as I know about knitting. To go all out offensive against a team far superior than us and lose a vital point would have been foolish. Time will tell.

I can't believe people really expected us to go all out at them in the last ten minutes after holding firm all game, some should stick to FIFA.

After their goal we had to 2 subs due to injuries, at this stage our lone striker was absolutely dead on his feet and one of the subs (Dunn) looked just as tired after 10 minutes, one time we tried to push forward they looked far more likely to counter us.

For once Kean did what a experienced manager (say our previous one) would have done, a point is huge against the champions, yes 3 would have seen us safe but I feel if we went at them we would have left with 0 thus going behind Wolves and level with Blackpool.

Numpties? Why is everything on this site black and white? I didn't expect the team to recklessly "go all out offensive" against united but I also didn't expect them to lie down and take them playing keep ball across the back for 10 minutes. That was pathetic and frankly if you can't see that then I'm staggered. How about we did something in between. You know, that thing called football

[Alan75]

If this was the four fans who chanted "champions" just before being ejected I think you handled the situation very well. It happened three rows directly behind me. Until that point no one knew they were Utd supporters.

I thought we performed well and a point against Utd has to be positive. However a lot of things happened yesterday which left me very unhappy.

Shame on the FA for playing the cup final on a league day

Shame on Utd and Rovers for giving up playing. The object is to win especially in our position with results going against us. Drawing at Wolves is not a given.

Shame on the BBE fans booing Keith Andrews.

Shame on the fans behind me who sit on their hands every week, do nothing to support the team and then chase Utd fans out pouring venom at the stewards and the fans.

Disgusted with the media who almost ignored the importance of this game to the relegation battle and our club.

Another bit of football died yesterday.

I shall beat Wolves, I hope we try to win for 90 minutes.

Paul, it's not football thats dying it's the FA and Premiership strangling itself.

I find these days that there is more enjoyment watching lower league and non-league games. The skill may not be there but there sure is more commitment.

On free weekends this season Ive taken in games at Morecambe and Lancaster and enjoyed the banter with supporters. The player commitment (even if sometimes pub league technical ability)and the freedom to stand up on terraces.

It maybe an age thing, a throw back to my younger days when football was a sport and not a business, but after the goings on this season at Ewood, I'm a very disillusion customer.

With regards to your last comment Paul, its a team game - you cant beat Wolves on your own.

[PAFELL]

If this was the four fans who chanted "champions" just before being ejected I think you handled the situation very well. It happened three rows directly behind me. Until that point no one knew they were Utd supporters.

I thought we performed well and a point against Utd has to be positive. However a lot of things happened yesterday which left me very unhappy.

Shame on the FA for playing the cup final on a league day - THAT WAS DOWN TO THE DATE OF THE FINAL OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - SAME WILL HAPPEN NEXT SEASON. CHANGE OF TIME WILL BE A 5PM KICK OFF. IT IS THE EUROPEAN COMPETITIONS DICTATING AS WELL AS TV TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Shame on Utd and Rovers for giving up playing. The object is to win especially in our position with results going against us. Drawing at Wolves is not a given. UTD STARTED ALL THIS AND ROVERS WENT ALONG WITH IT. THOUGH TO BE HONEST THERE WAS NOTHING ROVERS COULD DO ABOUT IT, UTD HAD THE BALL.

Shame on the BBE fans booing Keith Andrews. AGREED

Shame on the fans behind me who sit on their hands every week, do nothing to support the team and then chase Utd fans out pouring venom at the stewards and the fans. SURELY THE FACT THE FANS WERE THERE WATCHING, IS SUPPORTING THE CLUB AND THE TEAM. THAT IS NOT DOING NOTHING. THAT IS LIKE SAYING SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO A MATCH OR CAN HARDLY GET TO A MATCH IS NOT A TRUE SUPPORTER.

Disgusted with the media who almost ignored the importance of this game to the relegation battle and our club.

Another bit of football died yesterday.

I shall beat Wolves, I hope we try to win for 90 minutes.

[PAFELL]

Me Steve Kean you are a disgrace to this club.

Giving up trying for a win and ending up with a point that may well see us get relegated. Sums you up you failure.

You horrible, horrible man.

Get out of my town and my club you slimy pr!k.

The last 15 minutes was Keiths best ever by the way.

He made no mistakes at all.

Pathetic post of the year. Utd had the ball, they started the keep ball. This was nothing to do with Kean, Venky's, Anderson. There was nothing Rovers could do about it. For 75 minutes, both teams went at each other. Rovers were good for their point. Pity Olssons header, that hit the post, didn't go in, putting us 2 0 up. It was a very good match. Utd should not have started the keep ball, but they did. Rovers did not have the ball and there was nothing they could do about it. It was legal. The same as taking the ball into the corners to wind the clock down. By starting the keep ball, utd in affect gave Rovers respect. They also new that if they went for the win, Rovers could also have won.

[Ricky]

The only thing I would say to that is in that case how does the ball ever change possession in a game of football. You're saying they had it so we couldn't get it, well we'd been getting it off them all game so why did we stop trying in the last 10 minutes.

If we'd started pressing them we would have won the ball back but we sat back and let them do it.

Now in my opinion it wasn't the worst thing to do. It was probably the right decision but to say we couldn't do anything about it is wrong in my opinion.

[47er]

P.S. Having seen it on TV I still don't think it was a penalty. The United player had completely lost control of the ball and it was headed out of play. Whether it was still "in play" for a millisecond at the point Robinson made contact should be irrelevant. Common sense should (and usually does) prevail.

Quite agree Robbo was rash and should never have given the ref a decision to make (or refer) though.

You're right Rev. The Utd player had lost control of the ball and it would have run out of play. So the obvious question is "why did Robinson not see that and why did he continue with his challenge?"

He made contact before the ball went out and therefore it was a pen.

In similar cases I've seen refs wave them away especially when the player is playing for it. But that wasn't going to happen today was it?

[92er]

You're right Rev. The Utd player had lost control of the ball and it would have run out of play. So the obvious question is "why did Robinson not see that and why did he continue with his challenge?"

He made contact before the ball went out and therefore it was a pen.

In similar cases I've seen refs wave them away especially when the player is playing for it. But that wasn't going to happen today was it?

Radio Rovers drew a comparison with the penalty against Blackpool, where the foul was given after the ball had been played.

[RevidgeBlue]

Radio Rovers drew a comparison with the penalty against Blackpool, where the foul was given after the ball had been played.

Well the Blackpool one certainly wasn't a penalty, no matter which way you look at it. It wasn't even a foul and all the players had turned round expecting a goal kick.

You can at least see why the one yesterday was given but I would say it would be waved away more often than not.