[Archived] News Article -> 2011/12 Carling Cup Match Report: Rovers 3 Sheffield Wednesday 1

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Carling Cup 2nd Round

Blackburn Rovers(3) 3 – 1 (0)Sheffield Wednesday

Rochina 3, 4, Goodwillie 7 Morrison 50

Referee: D. Webb Attendance: 8,607

If ever there was a game of two halves, this was it. The Rovers produced a scintillating first twenty minutes which began in sensational fashion with three superb goals being scored in the first seven minutes. However, the second half proved a drab affair with the Rovers slipping back into their sloppy passing routines and looking anything but comfortable against a Wednesday side that was a mixture of first teamers and reserves. Better opposition might well have taken advantage, but Wednesday looked a poor side and perhaps this took the edge off the performance of the Rovers in the second period.

Both managers opted to utilise their squads to the full for a match which was played in an eerily empty Ewood Park. An attendance of 8,607 illustrated the public's verdict on the early stages of a competition that has become almost farcical. When League One sides opt to rest first-teamers for forthcoming League games, it's little wonder that so many fans opt to give these games a wide berth.

Nonetheless, those who were there were treated to the most explosive opening seven minutes seen at Ewood Park for many a year. The visitors were caught completely cold as the Rovers opened the scoring after just three minutes. The architect of the goal was Brett Emerton in what, if reports are to be believed, may well be one of his last appearances for the Rovers. In a typical run from deep, Emerton, playing in the right-back spot, delivered an inch-perfect cross into the box for Ruben Rochina to nip in front of a defender and volley home from close range.

Within a minute the Rovers had doubled their lead and Rochina had notched his second goal. Goodwillie took advantage of a blocked clearance to find Rochina on the left of the penalty area. The former Barcelona "B" player wasted no time in cutting in and, from an acute angle, fired a low shot into the opposite corner of the net.

The deadly finishing continued in the seventh minute when David Goodwillie scored his first goal at Ewood Park. Emerton played the ball forward and once the Wednesday defence failed to clear, the Scottish international was on it in a flash. Moving into the Wednesday penalty area, he wasted no time in blasting the ball past O'Donnell to give the Rovers a three-goal lead.

It was a sensational start from the Rovers and they continued to turn the screw on a Wednesday side that looked completely bewildered by the speed and accuracy of the Rovers' passing and movement. Rochina and Mauro Formica combined on several occasions with some intricate passing, not to mention some flamboyant backheeled passes which completely bamboozled the Wednesday players. Steven Nzonzi was in dominant mood in the centre of midfield, winning tackles, retaining possession and then stroking the ball around with consummate ease. Radosav Petrovic, although not as involved as Nzonzi, kept the ball moving with a succession of passes, both long and short, which suggested the two might form an impressive partnership in the centre of the field.

By contrast, the visitors could hardly galvanize themselves as an attacking force. Many of their passes went astray and they looked completely out of sorts. Perhaps it's not surprising as Gary Megson opted to rest no fewer than eight of the side that began Saturday's game at Notts County. However, in fairness, you can only beat what is put in front of you and the Rovers did so in convincing fashion during that first forty-five minutes. Indeed, the Rovers might have had more rewards for their efforts but for some dubious decisions from the officials. Goodwillie had a goal ruled out for a tight offside decision while Martin Olsson appeared to be hauled back in the area when bursting towards goal, but the officials remained unmoved.

The Rovers replaced Grant Hanley for the second half with Jason Lowe. Hanley had received a head injury during the first half and Steve Kean opted to give Jason Lowe the opportunity to play in the unfamiliar role of centre-back. The second period proved to be a major anti-climax. Suddenly the crispness of the first-half passing disappeared as did the tempo of the Rovers play. The attack stuttered as Goodwillie found it difficult to get the better of centre-backs who had clearly had a few verbals from their manager at half-time. Formica and Rochina were closed down rather more quickly and, as a result, failed to make the same impact on the game. Passes suddenly started to go astray and the visitors began to haul themselves back into the game. While they never looked like pulling back the three-goal margin, they certainly started to give the Rovers more to think about defensively.

The half was only five minutes old when Wednesday managed to get on the scoresheet. Wednesday were awarded a free-kick deep in Rovers' territory and Chris Lines opted to take it quickly to Clinton Morrison, who spun on the shoulder of a defender and managed to fire the ball into the far corner of the net beyond Mark Bunn. It was a clever piece of opportunism by the Wednesday substitute.

In midfield the Rovers failed to enjoy the supremacy of the first half and Petrovic struggled to find his range, with many of his passes failing to reach a blue and white shirt. The former Partizan Belgrade midfield man also squandered the opportunity of restoring the three-goal lead when he blasted over from point-blank range.

The Rovers introduced David Dunn and Junior Hoilett to the fray, but neither could lift the sense of lethargy which seemed to have engulfed the team during the second half. Hoilett had one typically tricky run that almost brought a goal, but in truth there was little left to shout about. The Rovers might have been spluttering in the second half, but Wednesday simply didn't have the ability to cause any serious problems.

The highlight for the Rovers was undoubtedly the clinical finishing of Rochina. Emerton was solid at full-back and his performance underlined just how much his versatility will be missed if he returns to Australia. Nzonzi was excellent in midfield and Rochina and Formica linked well during the first forty-five minutes. However, the fade-out in the second half will be of concern to Steve Kean as he sits down to plot the downfall of Everton on Saturday. The fans can only hope that it's the Rovers of the first half who turn up to face the men from Goodison Park.

An ebullient Steve Kean described the performance as a “glimpse of the future†with the Rovers parading a whole host of young players who the manager hopes will take the club forward. Whilst there is no doubting the potential of some of those on view at Ewood Park, the fact remains that the Premier League is a tough learning school and second-half performances like the one against Wednesday will be severely punished. Nonetheless, the win was a welcome relief for those who had endured the opening two fixtures and the result will no doubt have brought the manager welcome breathing space. A win against Everton on Saturday and hopefully the Rovers can finally kick-start the 2011–12 season.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers

Mark Bunn (gk); Brett Emerton, Grant Hanley (Jason Lowe 46), Gael Givet, Martin Olsson; Morten Gamst Pedersen, Radosav Petrovic, Steven Nzonzi (David Dunn 71), Ruben Rochina (David "Junior" Hoilett 81); Mauro Formica; David Goodwillie

Subs not used: Paul Robinson (gk), Bruno Ribeiro, Michel Salgado, Jason Roberts

Manager: Steve Kean

Sheffield Wednesday

Richard O'Donnell; Jon Otsemobor (Chris Lines 26), Reda Johnson, Danny Batth, Mark Reynolds; Chris Sedgwick, James O'Connor, Giles Coke, Liam Palmer; Danny Uchechi, Gary Madine (Clinton Morrison 47)

Subs not used: Nicky Weaver (gk), Mark Beevers, Julian Bennett, Jose Vitor Semedo, David Prutton

Manager: Gary Megson

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – None

Sheffield Wednesday – Gary Madine, Reda Johnson, Chris Lines

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