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Day: 13/30

Season: 2011/12

Fixture: Rovers 0-1 Wigan Athletic (7/5/12)

Highlights

Why Chosen 

Where to even begin? I think the 2011/12 season for Rovers has been well documented for its mixture of dismal displays, boardroom unrest, an unfit manager leading an unlikable squad in an unusual atmosphere where the resignation of relegation that loomed over the club for 18 months finally brought to an end Rovers’ proud run of Premier League success. The Wigan game itself was a microcosm of the whole season. Rovers needed a win to have any chance of survival and looked every bit the relegation side. Pitch invasions either side of the break, the first by a chicken, the second by a disgruntled fan showed how toxic the club had become. A Yakubu chance and a genuine shout for a penalty from contract ‘dodger’ Junior Hoilett came and went before the coup de grace from Antolin Alcaraz gave Wigan all three points. Rovers down with a whimper.

Aftermath 

Before the dust had even settled on the evening, Bradley Orr took a chance to criticise the fans for not getting behind the club and even praised the manager! As for the aforementioned Steve Kean (the least popular man in a generation in Blackburn) the beleaguered Scot used the platform to reiterate his commitment to the club whilst letting the fans know himself and the players were “devastated and numb”.

The blow of relegation can still be felt a dozen years on. For a good section of the fan base this was a jumping off point. 26,144 saw Rovers relegated that night, I wonder how many haven’t been back since.

Honourable Mentions 

Wigan Athletic 3-3 Rovers (19/11/11) One of the craziest games I’ve ever been too. Rumours in the crowd of potential new ownership, saw Rovers fans with Qatar flags cheering on the boys in a six goal thriller that ended with goalkeeper Paul Robinson taking a boot to the face to win a 90+8th minute penalty, duly dispatched from Player of the Year Yakubu. An illegal goal from a corner, a David Dunn red card, a Yakubu strike inside two minutes. This game had a little bit of everything.

Manchester United 2-3 Rovers (31/12/11) Just days after a fortuitous point at Anfield, Rovers traveled to The Theatre of Dreams and emerged victorious with a win that was most welcome in the short term, but became a “get out of jail free card” for the manager and press whenever Kean’s authority was questioned. “Well we/they did win at Old Trafford”. Rovers caught a disjointed and injury ravaged Man Utd on the hop and snatched an unlikely three points off birthday boy Sir Alex Ferguson. Rovers haven’t played at the ground in the 13 years since. 

Arsenal 7-1 Rovers (4/2/12) – Sorry Rovers battered at The Emirates. Big Sam was sacked on the back of a 7-1 hiding away at one of the big boys…Teflon Steve would see out the season, and more.