Ince: We Deserved To Win

Blackburn Rovers manager Paul Ince felt that Rovers deserved the win over Everton that takes us into Round Four of the Carling Cup.

Robbie Fowler (making his first appearance for Rovers) set-up Martin Olsson (for his first Rovers goal) to give us a 1-0 win over Everton at Ewood Park on Wednesday evening and Ince felt we deserved it as we were the better side, however, he feels we probably should have made things easier for ourselves.

Ince told Sky Sports: "To be fair, I thought we deserved to win.

"I thought in the first half we were outstanding and we wouldn't have been unfortunate to come in three or four up because we were that good.

"We played some lovely football and I said to the lads at half-time to keep doing what they're doing - keep the tempo up and keep the back door shut and we'll get chances.

"We had three, four or five chances in the second half and we should have put the game to bed in the second half.

"We were hanging on for the last five minutes, but that would have been cruel.

"The defending was unbelievable and we had two of the youngest full-backs to ever play at Blackburn in a long, long time in Simmo (Danny Simpson) and Olsson.

"It was also a first game for Robbie (Fowler), he should have had a goal.

"I know it sounds like I'm moaning, but sometimes you've got to put them to bed, otherwise you get punished."

However, the win did come at a cost as Paul Robinson had to come off after only 13 minutes with a calf injury to be replaced by Jason Brown. Robinson will have a scan today but Incey is still hopefully that the England goalkeeper will be fit to face Newcastle United on Saturday. If not though Incey was impressed with Brown's performance as deputy.

He added: "Paul seems to have run over a black cat as he has had a lot of injuries recently.

"He is going to have a scan and fingers crossed he will be ready for Saturday. Having said that, Browny came in and looked assured and steady."


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