[Archived] News Article -> 2012/13 FA Cup Match Report: Rovers 2 Bristol City 0

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FA Cup 3rd Round

Blackburn Rovers(1) 2 – 0 (0)Bristol City

Murphy 7, Hanley 58

Referee: N. Miller Attendance: 5,504

After falling at the first hurdle in the Capital One Cup, the Lancashire Senior Cup and the FA Youth Cup, it was a huge relief to finally see the Rovers make progress in a cup competition in 2012–13. Even more pleasing was to see Gary Bowyer taking the competition seriously by only making one change from the side which beat Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day. In the event it proved to be a fairly routine affair with the visitors never really causing the Rovers any problems. Indeed, if the final ball had been better, the Rovers might well have run out more convincing winners than they actually did.

Diogo Rosado coming in for the newly signed Joshua King was the only change that Gary Bowyer made to his starting line-up, while Grzegorz Sandomierski and Hugo Fernandez made their first appearances on the bench.

Attacking the Blackburn End in the first half, the Rovers got off to a flyer when Danny Murphy gave them a seventh-minute lead. The Rovers' skipper intercepted the ball in midfield and drove towards the Bristol area. As defenders dropped off, he simply moved into the space presented to him and instead of opting to pass to either right or left, where players had taken up decent positions, he struck a pretty decent shot from 25 yards which flew into the top corner of the net. Tom Heaton, the City 'keeper, seemed surprised by the fact that Murphy had elected to shoot and, in truth, his efforts to keep it out will not go down as the 'keeper's finest hour.

A header from former Rover Jonathan Stead flew over the bar as the visitors tried to rally from the early setback. However, from that point on until virtually the last action of the half, the Rovers dominated proceedings. Colin Kazim-Richards, who was playing alongside Jordan Rhodes in a two-man attack, forced Heaton to dive full length to tip an effort around the post for a corner. He then took advantage of some good work by Ruben Rochina to have another go at goal, but this time the shot was fractionally too high.

The Rovers continued to press forward as City struggled to keep the lively Kazim-Richards in check. Liam Fontaine managed to block another effort on goal from the Turkish international, whilst the striker almost turned provider, but Rosado was unable to meet an inviting-looking cross.

The interplay by the Rovers was very impressive, although the final ball was sometimes found wanting with Rosado and Rochina guilty of trying to beat one too many defenders before passing.

The Rovers suffered a setback on 34 minutes when Adam Henley limped out of the action with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. This necessitated a reshuffle with Jason Lowe dropping to right-back and Simon Vukcevic coming on to play in the centre of midfield alongside Murphy.

However, the changes did little to disrupt the Rovers' rhythm as they continued to knock the ball around with confidence. In truth, the Rovers ought to have worked Heaton rather more than they did, but the ease with which they kept possession meant one or two tended to be over-elaborate when a simple pass would have sufficed.

The visitors might well have grabbed themselves an undeserved lifeline right on the stroke of half-time when Ryan Taylor headed for goal. Fortunately, the ever alert Jake Kean had anticipated the effort and managed to fingertip the ball over the bar. It was another excellent save from the young 'keeper.

The second half began with the Rovers enjoying plenty of possession and looking increasingly confident on the ball. However, once again, a tendency to overplay and to shoot from seemingly impossible positions detracted from some excellent approach play.

Nevertheless, on 58 minutes the Rovers finally scored the second goal that their play had undoubtedly deserved. A corner by Murphy found its way to Rochina and when he chipped the ball back into the area, Scott Dann showed a deft touch to take the ball on and push it forwards for Grant Hanley to force the ball home from close range. The two centre-backs showed their obvious delight at creating and scoring at the other end of the pitch!

Just past the hour mark Jason Lowe left the field with what was presumably an injury and Morten Gamst Pedersen replaced him. Once again, Bowyer was forced to rearrange his side with Vukcevic dropping to right-back and Pedersen occupying a central-midfield position.

The switch did little to interrupt the Rovers' superiority and both Vukcevic and Martin Olsson were able to get forward from full-back to cause the Bristol defence problems. Olsson was particularly unlucky not score after ghosting past players with ease and then firing a rocket-like shot just wide. He repeated the exercise minutes later as the visitors looked increasingly ragged.

In truth, the Rovers ought to have had more goals to show for their efforts, but Kazim-Richards, Rochina, Rosado and King, when he came on, were all guilty of overplaying and shooting from difficult angles when a simple ball could have played in a better-positioned teammate. Nonetheless, this was another impressive performance and one which can only help to develop confidence within the squad. Three successive wins has proved to be a remarkable turnaround in the Rovers' fortunes and Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips are to be congratulated on what they have achieved thus far.

Defensively the Rovers were never troubled by the visitors. Scott Dann and Grant Hanley looked imperious in the centre of defence, whilst Jake Kean handled what little he had to do in confident fashion. A young 'keeper is likely to mistakes and no doubt Kean will at some point, but the fact remains he looks the best young 'keeper that the club have had for many a year.

Three players occupied the right-back spot and all performed admirably in that position. Henley looked very impressive going forward as did Vukcevic.

Danny Murphy had a quieter game than of late but kept things ticking over in the centre of the park and, of course, his long-range effort set the Rovers on their way to another win.

Ruben Rochina and Diogo Rosado were both a little disappointing in terms of their contribution. Both had a tendency to overplay and this undermined the good work that they did. Both are young and both need work if they are to succeed at this level. There is no doubting the innate ability, but it needs to be harnessed to the team "ethic" rather than seeking personal glory. The same criticism today might have been levelled at Colin Kazim-Richards, but the Turkish international has the ability to impose himself on opposition defences, because of his physique, in a manner in which Rochina and Rosado are unable to do. He gave another powerful performance but was let down by trying to shoot from tight angles rather than looking to play in the likes of Jordan Rhodes.

Rhodes had a very quiet game due to the lack of service he received. He worked hard, took up some good positions in the area, but the passes he needed never came. It was undoubtedly a frustrating afternoon for the Scottish international.

Morten Gamst Pedersen looked particularly useful in the centre of the pitch and one pass which sent Martin Olsson clear was sublime. There must surely be a role for the talented Norwegian international at Ewood Park. We simply cannot allow good players to keep leaving the club.

Three successive wins has been an excellent return for Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips and the players are clearly playing for them. There seems a mutual respect between players and coaches and the players seem far more united in their approach on the field.

The official attendance of 5,504 was clearly a disappointment but no surprise. Attendances have been poor all season and in an era when cup ties are no longer fashionable it was hardly a surprise that so few fans turned up. Nonetheless, those that did go will have gone away impressed by another decent performance. Leaving Ewood Park there was a sense of optimism in the air and it has been quite a while since that was the case.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers

Jake Kean; Adam Henley (Simon Vukcevic 35), Scott Dann, Grant Hanley, Martin Olsson; Jason Lowe (Morten Gamst Pedersen 63), Danny Murphy, Ruben Rochina, Diogo Rosado (Joshua King 77); Jordan Rhodes, Colin Kazim-Richards

Subs not used: Grzegorz Sandomierski (gk), Nuno Gomes, David Goodwillie, Hugo Fernandez

Caretaker Manager: Gary Bowyer

Bristol City

Tom Heaton; James Wilson (Bobby Reid 63), Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Greg Cunningham (Martyn Woolford 70); Mark Wilson, Stephen Pearson, Cole Skuse, Paul Anderson; Jon Stead (Steven Davies 59), Ryan Taylor

Subs not used: Dean Gerken (gk), Joe Edwards, Wes Burns, Matthew Bates

Manager: Derek McInnes

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – Diogo Rosado, Grant Hanley

Bristol City – Liam Fontaine

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