[Archived] News Article -> 2012/13 Match Report: Middlesbrough 1 Rovers 0

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Middlesbrough	(0) 1 – 0 (0)	Blackburn Rovers
Jutkiewicz 67
Referee: M. Atkinson		Attendance: 22,882

As I sat down to write this report early on Thursday morning, news began to filter through from India that Henning Berg was about to be removed as manager of Blackburn Rovers. It was, therefore, somewhat ironic that the Rovers, in what has turned out to be Berg's last game in charge, should have given an improved performance even if the end result was depressingly familiar.

Middlesbrough looked somewhat leggy in the opening half after their exertions at Elland Road on Saturday whereas the Rovers, fresh from a weekend off, looked the better side for long periods of the opening half. However, apart from a first-minute effort from Colin Kazim-Richards which hit the inside of a post before rebounding to safety, the Rovers failed to trouble Jason Steele despite having the lion's share of possession.

The home side improved after the interval and once they took the lead the rest of the game had a depressingly familiar look about it. Dreams of promotion back to the Premier League are surely now well and truly over for this season. Indeed, the main aim is now to ensure that we are still in the Championship next season and don't slip even further down football's food chain. Whilst many may believe that to be unthinkable, the sad fact is that the Rovers are now hovering dangerously over the drop zone and unless this run of defeats can be halted, League One football might well become a reality.

Once again the pre-match chatter was about team selection. Gael Givet, Dickson Etuhu and Simon Vukcevic were all dropped from the eleven that had performed so poorly at Bloomfield Road, while Grant Hanley, Danny Murphy and Diogo Rosado stepped up to replace them. The Australian rookie, Sebastian Usai, took his place on the bench as the back-up 'keeper, which again led fans to speculate on the future of Paul Robinson particularly as news of Brad Friedel signing a new two-year deal at Tottenham was announced as we were making our way up to Middlesbrough.

The Rovers began brightly and might have taken the lead within the opening minutes but for the intervention of a post. Joshua King and Martin Olsson linked up well on the left wing and when the Swedish international full-back crossed into the area, Kazim-Richards latched onto it and sent in a shot across goal which hit the inside of the post and rebounded to safety.

The Rovers were looking very lively and another cross from Olsson was just too fierce for Rhodes to reach. However, the former Huddersfield man was soon back in the action with a shot which flew narrowly over the bar. Jason Steele was called into action to hold onto an effort by Rosado as the Rovers looked far more comfortable than they have done for some time away from home.

Middlesbrough seemed strangely lethargic, although shots from Marvin Emnes and George Friend suggested that the home side still had the potential to trouble the Rovers.

Joshua King looked lively down the left and on a couple of occasions he left defenders in his wake only to let himself down with a poor final ball.

As the half progressed, the game became a little more even with both goalkeepers seeing more of the action, but in truth neither was seriously troubled.

The second half started with the Rovers again taking the game to Middlesbrough and Steele was again called upon to make good saves from both Danny Murphy and Kazim-Richards. But it was Middlesbrough that took the lead on 67 minutes with a well-worked move that left the Rovers defence floundering. Friend played an accurate ball out of defence to Lucas Jutkiewicz on the half-way line. He, in turn, flicked the ball out to Scott McDonald, who then drove towards the Rovers penalty area. McDonald played the ball back to Jutkiewicz, who took the ball past Olsson before firing home from the edge of the area.

The goal seemed to take the wind out the Rovers' sails and, as Murphy tired, the Rovers enjoyed less and less possession as Middlesbrough looked increasingly comfortable.

The Rovers fans began the ritual "Venky's Out" chant and the mutterings against the players and management grew ever louder. Berg delayed the introduction of a substitute until David Dunn entered the fray on 80 minutes, but for whatever reason he was asked to occupy a position out wide on the left wing. Ruben Rochina replaced Rosado on 83 minutes and the young Spaniard almost snatched an equaliser in the dying minutes. He slammed a free-kick tamely against the wall but made better contact with the rebound, which Steele did well to turn around the post.

As I close this report, it appears that events have overtaken me and that Berg and his backroom staff have been removed. Circus Venky it would appear is in full swing and one can only feel sorry for Berg, who found that working for Venky's and Shebby Singh is, indeed, a thankless task. One can only wonder who the next unfortunate soul to pick up this poisoned chalice will be. However, whilst Venky's and Singh remain, we all know that whoever gets the gig they will struggle to overcome the sheer madness that now infests Ewood Park at every level. It is difficult to comprehend how this once great club has been brought to its knees so quickly by one family in India who just over two years ago were completely unknown to the people of Blackburn.

Teams

Middlesbrough

Jason Steele; George Friend, Jonathan Woodgate, Andre Bikey (Rhys Williams 46), Justin Hoyte; Emmanuel Ledesma, Josh McEachran (Richard Smallwood 56), Grant Leadbitter, Scott McDonald; Lukas Jutkiewicz, Marvin Emnes (Nicky Bailey 72)
Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Kevin Thomson, Ishmael Miller, Andy Halliday
Manager: Tony Mowbray

Blackburn Rovers

Jake Kean; Adam Henley, Grant Hanley, Scott Dann, Martin Olsson; Colin Kazim-Richards, Jason Lowe, Danny Murphy Joshua King; Diogo Rosado; Jordan Rhodes. Subs not used: Sebastian Usai (gk), Gael Givet, Simon Vukcevic, Dickson Etuhu, Morten Gamst Pedersen
Manager: Henning Berg

Bookings

Middlesbrough – Emmanuel Ledesma

Blackburn Rovers – Adam Henley


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