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Day: 19/30

Season: 2005/06

Fixture: Rovers 4-3 Manchester United (1/2/06)

Highlights

Why Chosen 

The 2005/06 season was one of pure delight. Rovers boss Mark Hughes had finally started to build a team of his own, in his image. Tough, tenacious and tireless. He also added some genuine talent.

The saying “a rising tide raises all boats” the perfect metaphor as mercurial Welsh striker Craig Bellamy made the team better from his arrival to the season’s end at home to Manchester City. Yet it is with a certain irony that he was out injured for the game I have chosen. But how could you not? Wednesday 1st February 2006, Manchester United at Ewood. The two great rivals from the mid 90s meeting for the third time in three weeks, as United had denied Rovers a trip back to Cardiff in the Carling Cup semifinal (2-3 on aggregate). 

I could write a dissertation about this game alone! But I’d urge you to watch the highlights – as a hat-trick from the new permanent signing David Bentley, a Lucas Neill penalty and a Rio Ferdinand dismissal in a 4-3 victory against Alex Ferguson’s United hardly scratches the surface. Rovers (ahead 4-1 at one stage) clung on for victory despite two late goals from (current Leicester boss) Ruud van Nistelrooy. An all-time classic and a first league double over the Red Devils for 75 years.

Aftermath 

Rovers were actually pushing for a Champions League spot (5th with seven games to go) but a poor Easter period meant Sparky’s boys would have to settle for 6th and UEFA Cup football the following year (see yesterday). The aforementioned League Cup run another highlight of the campaign which took Rovers to within a game of a return to the Millennium Stadium. United were too strong at Old Trafford (after a spirited 1-1 draw at Ewood) despite the best efforts of Brad Friedel who had earlier saved a van Nistelrooy penalty in a 2-1 defeat. The season has subsequently been remembered for Bellamy’s brilliance. The striker joined Liverpool that summer before explosive spells at Manchester City and West Ham United. His coaching career has subsequently taken him to the Wales job (via a period down the M65 with Vincent Kompany) where he’s off to a magnificent start. The 05/06 season would also lay the foundations for the cup exploits that would follow.

Honourable Mentions 

Rovers 2-1 Fulham (20/8/05) – A game that is remembered for its two “Goal of the Season” contenders. Morten Gamst Pedersen’s acute volley from a Shefki Kuqi cross was a leading contender before Tugay, arguably, scored an even better one an hour later. The Turkish magician with a volley direct from a MGP corner. Another I’d recommend just popping on YouTube…oh wait fancy two minutes of Tugay strikes? Why not…it is the weekend after all!

Manchester United 1-2 Rovers (24/9/05) – Morten Gamst Pedersen with the brace at The Theatre of Dreams as Rovers picked up their first ever Premier League victory at Old Trafford.

Wigan Athletic 0-3 Rovers (31/12/05) – Sneaked this one in here. Another game filled with memorable strikes as Pedersen scored another acute angled volley, before Steven Reid unleashed a rocket to make it 2-0. The goal clocked at 117 MPH nearly took the net off in front of an ecstatic away end. Bellamy made it 3-0 to round off a memorable New Years Eve performance. Oh look, here’s that one too (well it is the weekend)

Rovers 3-2 Middlesbrough (18/3/06) – I usually only choose three ‘Honourable Mentions’ but felt compelled to put this one in here also, particularly as I’ve sung the praises of Mr Bellamy throughout this article. This was Bellamy at his best in a Rovers shirt. Down to 10 men against a very good Boro team (they’d won the Carling Cup the year earlier and would reach the UEFA Cup the year after) it was the Welsh wizard who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and drove Rovers on to victory. The winner, another thunderous strike, past Mark Schwarzer in front of the Blackburn End gave Rovers the win.