Welcome to Roger’s Rovers Advent Calendar - read the full story behind it and add your comments HERE.

Day: 15/30

Season: 2009/10

Fixture: Rovers 3-3 Chelsea – After Extra Time. Rovers win 4-3 on penalties (3/12/09)

Highlights

Why Chosen 

One of those wonderful nights as a Rovers fan. 

Neil McDonald took charge, in the absence of boss Sam Allardyce who was recovering heart surgery, oversaw a game that had a little bit of everything. Rovers led 1-0, were behind 1-2, ahead 3-2 in extra time and looked to have clinched a famous victory before a 120+2-minute equaliser from Portuguese right back Paulo Ferreira that sent the game to penalties. Benni McCarthy gave Rovers the lead in the shootout, before Michael Ballack (more on him in a few days time) saw his penalty saved by hero of the hour Paul Robinson. Brett Emerton and Vince Grella (yes VINCE GRELLA!) saw Rovers retain the advantage before Nikola Kalinic, scorer of Rovers’ opening goal nearly two hours earlier, saw his limp penalty effort saved. Hoilett kept Rovers on course before Robinson saved from Gael Kakuta to send Rovers into the semifinals.   

Aftermath 

Rovers would go on to lose 7-4 on aggregate in the semi final against Aston Villa. 0-1 defeat at Ewood followed up by a bonkers evening at Villa Park where Rovers actually led 1-2 on the night, before Chris Samba saw red and the tie slipped beyond the reach of the 10 men. Martin Olsson’s goal of the season scant consolation as Rovers’ Wembley jinx continued. Rovers’ FA Cup run had also ended at Villa Park just two weeks earlier. A Richard Dunne own goal ensured Rovers completed a league double over Villa for the 2009/10 season, whilst Martin O’Neill’s men took the spoils in the cups. Rovers would end the campaign 10th in the Premier League, an achievement that was taken for granted at the time, but feels almost impossible to imagine fourteen/fifteen years on.

Honourable Mentions 

Rovers 3-2 Burnley (18/10/09) – The first ever East Lancashire derby in the Premier League saw Rovers reign supreme thanks to goals from the likely David Dunn and unlikely Franco di Santo and Pascal Chimbonda. Burnley opened and closed the scoring at Ewood, but left empty handed once again.

Burnley 0-1 Rovers (28/3/10) – Martin Olsson took a dive…as Rovers completed the league double over their closest rivals.

Rovers 2-1 Arsenal (3/5/10) – Big Sam loved his battles with Arsene Wenger. Many of the famous wins in their rivalry came in his time as Bolton boss, but David Dunn and makeshift centre forward Chris Samba would ensure there’d be an Allardyce v Wenger Rovers edition. Of course, ‘Whinging Wenger’ had his complaints after the match, but this was Big Sam at his absolute best.