Rovers win Lancashire Derby

Blackburn made the short trip to Blackpool, and brought back home all 3 points after a comical own goal and a late Brett Emerton winner either side of Matt Phillips' lovely strike for the Tangerines

With 3 key absentees, Vince Grella, Jason Roberts and David Dunn, Sam Allardyce welcomed back Steve Nzonzi, hopefully recovering from the 15 minutes of fame getting to his head!

Robinson
Salgado
Nelsen
Samba
Givet
Jones
Nzonzi
Pedersen
EH Diouf
MB Diouf
Kaliic

Blackpool almost got off to a dream start. A well struck corner drifted towards the far 6 yard box corner, David Vaughan rising highest, with his pin point header cleared of the line by Salgado. Blackpool looked threatening down either flanks, managing to overlap our normally well structured wide men. Brett Ormerod followed with a neat cross, cleared by Gael Givet.

For all their early persistence, Blackpool could not find the net, well actually, they found the wrong net! A darting run down the left flank by EH Diouf saw a whipped cross hit the penalty spot. Kalinic flicked it on to the far post where Adam tried to head it back to Gilks in goals. However, Gilks was wrong footed and the ball rolled into the goal....Are the footballing Gods looking over Rovers this year or what???? Blackburn 1-0....

Blackburn almost doubled their lead immediately. Gamst stepped up for the free kick, Samba powering a header into the post and Kalinic blasting wide from the rebound. Diouf started to look extremely dangerous, teeing up Emerton, Kalinic and Jones, however Gilks was up to the task, making the necessary saves.

Then it was Paul Robinsons turn to make the vital saves, pulling off a remarkable stop from Adam then Taylor-Fletcher. Blackpool had started to up the tempo and were taking the game to Blackburn.

And they were rewarded in the 85th minute with 19 year old Phillips scoring a goal he will remember for years to come. Picking up the ball on the right edge, Phillips dashed inwards, skipping past Givet and unleashing a powerful strike from the 18 yard box and into the bottom corner of the net....1-1

However there was a twist in the game in the 3rd minute of extra time. The ball bobbled up for Benjani in the box, who attempted to strike on goal, with the Blackpool defence scrambling to block it. The rebound fell to Brett Emerton, curling a shot from 16 yards with his left foot, inch perfect, into the bottom corner of the net....

2-1 Blackburn!!!!!!

Blackburn had managed their first away win of the campaign, thanks to a bit of loving from the footballing Gods, and Rovers legend, Brett Emerton...

Next stop, Stoke City!

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