[Archived] Liverpool Away

[jim mk2]

Rovers players did the shirt proud today - and you cannot ask for more than that.

Big test for Bowyer in the replay. How is he going to play it ?

[tonyoz]

Think it will be harder Jim. It would have been nice to nick a late one!

[DE.]

Who do you think was Man of the Match?

Thought Baptiste was excellent. Gestede had a great first half, as did Conway.

Both halves considered I'd probably go with Baptiste.

[tonyoz]

Thought Baptiste was excellent. Gestede had a great first half, as did Conway.

Both halves considered I'd probably go with Baptiste.

Yeah!

[Josh]

hope king is back for the replay

[JBiz]

Super proud of the super Rovers. That might be and indication of how far we've fallen but I'm mega happy tonight. Made Liverpool run out of ideas.

[Gav]

Rovers players did the shirt proud today - and you cannot ask for more than that.

Big test for Bowyer in the replay. How is he going to play it ?

Same side, 5 across midfield and lets hope for pens.

[yoda]

When is the replay ?

[joey_big_nose]

I'll ask again. Why are we, where we are in the league? Blame Gaz by all means, but the players have to take responsibility too. This (and the Stoke) performance show we are capable of so much more.

To be fair its been a totally different game in the fa cup. Stoke, Swansea and Liverpool all approached the game as if they were going to batter us. They went attacking, leaving loads of space behind and down either side of their defence. Liverpool were particularly arrogant with barely 3 defenders covering the keeper, and I was so pleased to see Gestede dominated them in the air while Cairney, Marshall and Conway were all very effective on the deck. Just a shame none of them had the pace to motor into the huge expanses behind the Liverpool defence.

In the Championship against teams that sit back and do not underestimate us we really struggle to open them up. Totally different problem to solve and we haven't managed to do it. The prem teams have made it a lot easier for us to set up through complacency.

Fabulous performance today. Not only did we have the best chances Liverpool barely had a sniff on goal. Unbelievable. I was all prepared for a 4-0 hammering. Quality stuff. Well done GB and all.

Bear head has to stay out of the team.

[MCMC1875]

Been yonks since I started a thread; now thanks to the wonders of technology...

I can't really see anything other than a heavy loss but there's always hope. So 1-0 with an early goal for Rhodes and we defend for 75 mins like the universe depends on it.

WE ARE ROVERS.

[West Yorks Rover]

When is the replay ?

BBC just announced either April 7th or 8th. Tues/Weds

[Mercer]

Fantastic performance.

Really frustrating we are where we are in Championship - why oh why can manager & players not produce in Championship.

A lot of pride back in our town and club tonight.

Well done to all including those magnificent fans who made the journey to Anfield.

[K-Hod]

Incredibly proud of the lads today.

Some horrible cheating from Sturridge and Sterling today, diving gimps.

[bluebruce]

Football is a funny old game as they say. 20 years ago we came here as the best team in the country, with everything at stake (and Liverpool having nothing at stake, except that their winning might give their hated rivals the league), and lost. Today we rocked up as a mid table Championship side, hugely underperforming, with some key players out, and drew against the most in-form team in England.

[Stuart]

Just on the coach back. Not going to dissect the match, we simply worked incredibly hard.

Proud. To. Be. A. Rover.

[AllRoverAsia]

Incredibly proud of the lads today.

Some horrible cheating from Sturridge and Sterling today, diving gimps.

It was good to listen to Michael Owen turning down their penalty appeals. I thought Owen did a great job as a commentator and showed little bias if at all.

Thought defensively we were excellent throughout. Gestede was unplayable in the first half. Baptiste had a great game and so nearly scored.

[magicalmortensleftpeg]

Fantastic performance.

Really frustrating we are where we are in Championship - why oh why can manager & players not produce in Championship.

A lot of pride back in our town and club tonight.

Well done to all including those magnificent fans who made the journey to Anfield.

Why bring that up today? Just enjoy the moment.

Fabulous effort. Didn't think we could defend like that for so long. Liverpool never really carved out a great chance. Maybe the Toure miss.

We stand a chance. Liverpool probably won't be that bad again, but, with the same game plan and Josh King potentially back, we could do 'em.

It was good to listen to Michael Owen turning down their penalty appeals. I thought Owen did a great job as a commentator and showed little bias if at all.

He was awful last year but Owen has really improved as a commentator. Far far better then the BBC alternatives.

[DE.]

The guys on the US stream were pretty dismissive of Liverpool's penalty shouts too - but thought we should have had one when Sterling handballed.

[yoda]

BBC just announced either April 7th or 8th. Tues/Weds

Hope it is Tuesday

[RoyRover]

Brilliant result and a great performance. Delighted with how played and really stuck to the task. Hopefully we will give them another good game at Ewood. Hopefully Josh King will be back too, as his pace has been a major asset to us during this cup run. He would have had a field day with all that space to run into today. Well done Rovers!

[Mercer]

Why bring that up today? Just enjoy the moment.

Fabulous effort. Didn't think we could defend like that for so long. Liverpool never really carved out a great chance. Maybe the Toure miss.

We stand a chance. Liverpool probably won't be that bad again, but, with the same game plan and Josh King potentially back, we could do 'em.

He was awful last year but Owen has really improved as a commentator. Far far better then the BBC alternatives.

So many have said 'feel proud to be a Rover' since game ended.

Feels like old times, at least for today.

Why bring it up ? Because it's so bloody frustrating to be where we are when you see what this squad of players is capable of.

[Blackburn Ender]

Well, that was a really gutsy team performance and I have to hand it to Gary Bowyer, his team selection worked, the lads played for him (and each other) all over the pitch for 90-odd minutes.

There was a game plan, intelligent tackles were going in all the time, the keeper played a blinder.

It was like watching a proper Rovers team.

If he can get that level of commitment and attitude from this team maybe next season will be worth looking forward to?

I felt proud to be a Rover today (and it's a long time since I've said that), I thought we were well comfortable against a decent top 5 Premiership side and there were players all over the pitch putting in a decent shift.

[Mercer]

Hope it is Tuesday

Semi finals less than 2 weeks from replay !!!

[tonyoz]

Here are a few snippets from the "live" text commentary on the BBC website:

Pre-game

Stuart Pearce: "He (Bowyer) is a very good young manager. He's understated, but he should have more to say for himself because he is a magnificent manager.”

Lawrenson: "Have you seen Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer on the touchline in his suit? He looks like he is auditioning for James Bond. He is very very smartly dressed."

First Half

“Rudy Gestede steps over the ball and it runs on for Craig Conway. He can see the headlines in the papers as he runs on to it, gets all the power he could want, but none of the accuracy. Over the top.

I'm going to make a prediction that Rudy Gestede will be playing in the top flight next season. He's a total wildcard, Andy Carroll or Peter Crouch-esque, and Liverpool can't deal with him.

Lawrenson: "Has Blackburn goalkeeper Simon Eastwood actually made a save?”

"Rudy Gestede has been the best player in the game. He has caused lots of problems for Liverpool.

Savage: "You have to say Liverpool have missed Martin Skrtel at times, with the aerial presence of Rudy Gestede. They can't cope with him. He is causing every one of the defenders problems."

Second Half

Lawrenson: "Nine times out of 10 that would have gone in. A very good save from Simon Mignolet."

Chris, in Solihull: Anfield seems very muted, it is a good job the Blackburn fans are there making some noise.

Lawrenson: "Matthew Kilgallon put his arm out. Whether there is any contact I'm not sure but Daniel Sturridge went over very easily. Diving, it's just cheating, I'm sorry.”

Savage: "Credit to Gary Bowyer's side. The work rate they have shown, they have thrown their bodies on the line. Liverpool have the better players but Blackburn have worked tirelessly."

Lawrenson: "Still excellent from Blackburn. They have limited Liverpool to very few chances. And they have not tried to kick them, just make it hard for them."

Liverpool have had 21 efforts on goal, but only four on target.

Final Whistle

The 6,000 travelling Blackburn fans are making a tremendous din as they toast their players. Great scenes for those away fans, a fine effort al round. Can they go one better at home?

In the hat for the last four.

Lawrenson: "Congratulations to Blackburn Rovers on an absolutely magnificent display. They were never ever desperate at any time. They have looked at how Liverpool have played recently and the tactics were spot on. Goalkeeper Simon Eastwood hasn't really had to make a real top class save.”

Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer on BT Sport: "We carried out the gameplan to a tee and Rudy Gestede played really well. He was immense and had a few great opportunities. Unfortunately we just couldn't convert one.

Blackburn defender Matt Kilgallon told BT Sport: "It was 90 minutes of concentration. They had a lot of the ball but the lads worked for each other. ……………I really enjoyed it and it's something to tell everyone about when you're finished."

Alex Baptiste told BT Sport: "I got free from a corner and I thought it was in."

Bowyer: "The pitch at Ewood is nowhere near the standard here so it might be a bit of a leveller for us."

[joey_big_nose]

Should give King time to make a recover . Would fancy him to score a

Couple if Liverpool want to play 3 at the the back again.