Match News Report An enjoyable afternoons entertainment up to the Jansen incident. The injury to Matt looked bad at the time, so it put a bit of a dampner on the afternoon until I heard Hughes and Jansen being interviwed after the game. As Modi stated Kuqi could possibly become the new cult figure at Rovers, he's solid and isnt easily knocked off the ball, hes sharp and suprisingly quick off the mark and could suprise a few premiership defenders. (I mean Kuqi not Modi) Steven Reid is looking the part, and seems to have found his true vocation in the centre of midfield. Gesko could have reserected his career and provided some fine cross field passing, although neither he or the team were really tested by Espanyol, who tended to sit deap, seldom attacking the Rovers. There again maybe that was due to the fact that Rovers dominated the game with Reid and Savage controlling midfield. ps I like the new strip, although a red trim to the white socks may have been better than the blue trim.

Rovers completed their pre-season friendlies with a 4 – 0 win against Spanish club Espanyol this afternoon. Unfortunately it appeared that no one informed the Espanyol players that it was a friendly. The La Liga side had two players booked and were reduced to nine men, after Albert Riera was dismissed for what appeared to be a blow at Paul Dickov and goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, was red carded for a foul on Matt Jansen. With Rovers never troubled by the La Liga side, Rovers took total command following the dismissal of Riera on the half hour mark, and deservedly took the lead on 38 minutes, when Steven Reid collected a cross from Vratislav Gresko to score from close range. Shortly before the half time whistle Rovers went further ahead, with a goal from Morten Gamst Pedersen, who’d collected a Dickov, flicked on Reid cross. Half time 2 – 0. Within 5 minutes of the second half kicking off, Shefki Kuqi, opened his Ewood Park account when he volleyed home a Lucas Neill cross pasted a helpless Espanyol keeper. Five minutes later Kuqi made it 4 – 0 when he delicately slipped the ball past the advancing keeper. With around 15 minutes of the second half played Dickov made way for Matt Jansen to come on, but Jansen’s appearance was short lived after he was hacked down by Espanyol’s keeper Kameni, as Jansen attempted to round the keeper. At the time the incident looked serious, with Jansen immediately waving to the bench for assistance. With Jansen was carried off on a stretcher, the enjoyment of a 4 – 0 win was diminished and the final whistle didn’t come soon enough for many of the Rovers fans. Fortunately the worst fears of a further major injury was dispelled after the game when both Mark Hughes and Jansen confirmed that the injury wasn’t as bad as first thought. Final Score. Rovers 4 Espanyol 0. Rovers Team. Friedel, Neill (Taylor 53), Todd (Harkins 53), Mokoena, Gresko (Matteo 81), Emerton, Savage (Tugay 67) Reid, Pederson (Gray 76), Dickov (Jansen 56)(Derbyshire 65) Kuqi (Johnson 72) Sus not used Enckelman, Flitcroft, Douglas.

Here's a more ballanced review on the coming season. Soccernet Season Preview

Woow, got a poster to cover the hole in the lounge wall, a table place mat for the Mrs , a metal beer mat with a drainage hole in the middle and a smellie mini frizby on a string in the post this morning. But no betamax thingy. Oh and my Deano card. ps Bob Fleming.......it came in an envelope not a block pps.. Amazing that you have to threaten a sit down protest to get things moving. Right Im off to see if the beer mat works.

Oh listen to Llewellyn-Bowen Thats my season ticket and betamax dvd on the trolley.

Carrier pigeon, CARRIER PIGEON, when will they ever learn havent they heard of tinternet and email. Well if it doesnt arrive tomorrow morning, Im doing a sit down protest in the Blackburn End from 3pm till 5pm tomorrow.

Well Bob, mine hasnt come again As you say they must me sending them out in blocks, I'll just go and check my leggo.

Do they play music when we score.? Ive never realised that - we dont score that often at Ewood - when they do Im usually jumping around like a barefoot idiot on a sun baked beach.

I suspect this was the last thing Toon fans wanted to hear. Tyneside was awash with rumours on Wednesday night that Jenas had been involved in a heated argument with Graeme Souness after being asked to play at full back in the Intertoto Cup defeat by Deportivo La Coruña should Stephen Carr have failed a fitness test, but that allegation has been denied. “This is absolute nonsense,” Souness said. The Times The Guardian Im starting to feel sorry for Souness.

Forget the cricket, those diy projects around the house, the gardening and shopping with the wife, football is back at Ewood Park. With just over a week to go before the season kicks off, Rovers complete their pre-season with a game against Spanish side RCD Espanyol.at Ewood Park. Kick off 3pm. Saturday’s line up could indicate Mark Hughes line up for the forthcoming campaign, therefore it could be the last chance for fringe players to stake their claim for first team selection before they kick off away against newly promoted West Ham on the 13th August. With tickets for Saturday’s friendly competitively priced at £15, for adults, £5 for senior citizens and young adults, whilst under 15 year olds can get in for a £1, it will be a good opportunity for Rovers fans to see new summer signings, Craig Bellamy and Stefki Kuqi and to assess the fortunes of the club for the forthcoming season. Tickets for the game are available on the day, or can be reserved by phoning 08701 123456 and collected on match day from the Blackburn End collection point. For more details on tickets for Saturdays game, Rovers New Home Kit and Season Tickets Click on..Rovers Official Web Site

Keith Gillespie is to start training with Sheffield United after missing out on a move to Leeds. (The Sun)

Oh dear, Souey is getting some verbal on the Toon message boards tonight.

Ah they're in a breezeblock

Well Jewson's lorry past this afternoon, but still no ticket.

Grimsby 1 - Rovers 2 Jones.................. Matteo, Jansen Rovers Team. Fredici ( trialist)(Drench 80) Taylor Matteo McEveley(Harkins 48) Gresko Gallagher Savage(Treacy 72) Flitty(Douglas 45) Peter (Gray 35) Jansen(Derbyshire60) Dickov(Johnson60)

Oh they arent all bad. Some are very bias towards Rovers. Apart from followers of United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, the majority of supporters appreciate that unless there is a massive cash injection in to their club, there is very little to choose between the rest; whose main aim each season is to maintain Premiership survival. Whilst I could sympathise with Souness's objectives, as failure to maintain Premiership status has a major financial impact on a club, this lack of ambition by the manager, had to reflect in negative performances by the team, which did not help to encourage attendances at Ewood. Gone are the days when clubs such as Blackburn can aspire to winning the Premiership, however it is refreshing after the pre-season objectives of the previous manager, to hear Mark Hughes state that this coming seasons objectives is European qualification. Most football supporters live in a fantasy world, they live in their childhood dreams of scoring that winning penalty at Wembley, they never dream of relegation; that's why supporters such as Jack Walker bank rolled the club, because he wanted to full fill his dreams of seeing a successful team. Hughes could have quite easily read from the same script as Souness, so that anything more than survival would be an achievement, but Hughes has been bold and stated his ambition to take the club forward, a factor that every supporter wants to hear. Unlike their previous manager, Hughes is relatively quiet and doesn't court publicity, however, when he does speak to the media he makes the right noises that the fans want to hear. A prime example is this summers transfer dealings, whilst other clubs are publicising every move they are making and their managers are quoted daily in the media, Hughes has gone about his duties quietly in the background until a press conference is called to announce the signing of a player. John Williams the Rovers Chairman and the board of directors should be given credit as well for backing their manager; how many supporters would have considered that Bellamy would sign for Rovers following all the publicity of him discussing terms with Celtic and Everton. During last years close season, Blackburns transfer activity revolved around relegated Leicester and Leed's players Paul Dickov and Mateo, and ageing Spanish midfielder De Pedro; not exactly mind blowing signings to encourage season ticket sales, which wasn't helped by the departure of Cole on a free transfer to Fulham. Yet this year the signing of Bellamy has got the fans buzzing already, there is a feeling of optimism around the place, helped by the encouraging ambitious comments from Mark Hughes. With the acquisition of Bellamy and Stefki Kugi, Hughes has addressed the problems of last season striker problem; Bellamy will give the team some pace up front whilst Kugi is a big target man that has been lacking for a number of years. Rovers also have the return of Matt Jansen after his 5 months rest from football, who hopefully this season can resurrect his career. Rovers have however lost the services of Jon Stead, who despite only scoring twice last season, I personally preferred to Dickov. There again I suspect Stead was sacrificed in order to finance the incoming transfers, as I doubt anyone would have paid £1.8 million for Dickov. Although the club have stated that there is a need to off load one or two players, in order to reduce the wage bill, I suspect that there will be some more transfer activity before the start of the season, as there is in my opinion a lack of cover in the defence, i.e. only one recognised right back, and, apart from Tugay there is very little creativity in midfield. The label placed on the Rovers as "bully boys" by the media regarding their style of football at the end of last season has once again surfaced following the signing of Craig Bellamy. Yet anyone who cares to look at the stats on Bellamy will see that his on field disciplinary record in regards cards issued is well below the average. In the modern game of football, it appears to have become acceptable for players to use bad language, deceit, cheating, pushing, spitting and indulge in mass brawls. Yet, when Hughes made Rovers more competitive, in an attempt to avoid relegation, Rovers were painted as the villains of the league. Rovers didn't do themselves any favours by coming bottom of the fair play league, but a great deal of the yellow cards issued were for dissent, eg Tugay sent off for handling the ball. Im not trying to say that Rovers are little angels, they are no different from the rest, one only has to look at the stats for the so called star players in various teams. Vieira was carded 12 times and sent off once. Roy Keane recieved 12 yellow cards, Frank Lampard 8 yellow. John Terry 7 yellow. Whilst in Hughes first season, Rovers may not have been the most attractive team in the premier as he commenced restructuring the team to give them more battling qualities with the acquisition of Nelsen and Savage, which helped to eventually keep them clear of the relegation zone. For the coming season Hughes has already started to strengthen the front line weakness and I expect to see more entertaining games at Ewood, although I suspect for some of our away games he will revert to a single striker up front. Mark Hughes is saying the right things that the supporters have been wanting to hear for a few seasons. After a number of seasons where the managers objective was to avoid relegation resulting in negative play, I'm optimistic of a more positive attitude from the team and who would argue with Hughes that we should be aiming to achieve European qualification.

Are you going to watch the game this time. or just drinking

Men of Harlech. It would get Savage and Bellamy fired up.

Well the postmans been, and still no season ticket or betamax dvd season highlights delivered.

Well he's still waiting.........they lost 1-0

Nottingham Forest are set to sign John Curtis.

I moved it last night, there was no mention in the BBC LINK that you posted to Barton at City. Whilst I'm at it, I also moved the reply to your post last night, on the grounds of bad taste.

Rovers continued their preparations for the season with a 4 – 1 win against Swansea at the city’s new stadium on Saturday, with goals from Pedersen, Reid, Gray and Derbyshire. After a shaky start Rovers took command of the game to go in 1 - 0 at half time after Pederson headed home a Paul Gallagher's cross. In the second half Reid headed home an Emerton cross to make it 2 – 0 before Gray grabbed the third for Rovers. The Swans pulled a goal back thanks to an Andy Robinson's free-kick, before Matt Derbyshire made it 4 – 1 to Rovers. Summer signing Bellamy missed the game whilst fellow Welshman Robbie Savage was given his first 45 minutes of match practice since his summer operation. Team: Friedel, Neill, Matteo (Gray 70), Todd, Mokoena (McEveley 75), Reid (Taylor 80), Emerton (Douglas 73), Savage (Tugay 46), Kuqi (Derbyshire 63), Gallagher (Gresko 70), Pedersen (Flitcroft 63). Subs not used: Drench. Rovers complete their pre-season fixtures this week with an away trip to Grimsby tomorrow (Tuesday) night and a game at Ewood on Saturday against Espanyol.

Tim Sherwood captain of the Rovers Championship winning team in 1994-95 season has retired from professional football. Signed by Kenny Dalglish in 1992 from Norwich, Sherwood made 290 appearances for Rovers, scoring 32 goals, before moving on to Spurs in 1999.

Wilcox played against Inter on Monday night for Leicester, my lad said he was pants. Could the younger members please translate.