VB Weekend Winners and Losers

It really is difficult to put all my thoughts into cohesive comments this morning. One the one hand we could have won 2 or 3 nil against Liverpool and it would have been justified with the efforts we should have buried.

But sadly more profiligacy in front of goal means we ended up with a second straight 0-0 at fortress Ewood Park.

Still good news, David NGog can't shoot as well as he dive over Lee Carsley's legs so we kept a clean sheet and we gave a 'Big 4' side a proper game for a change.

Now it's up to me to fix up, look sharp and pick the three winners and losers for this weekends games.

WINNERS

RYAN NELSEN - What a game from the World Cup bound Kiwi. An absolute rock at the back who, along with Samba kept NGog, Kuyt and the great diving swan Steven Gerrard largely quiet.

I don't honestly remember him losing a header all day long, his positioning was awesome and he kept the line so much more organised than the months of October and early November.

Everyone stuck to task and the Rovers defence was well regimented and confident - to the point where the 'Allardyce's boys are difficult to beat' comments are back with a vengance!

Ryan's job is to defend and the stats from the last two games from the defence reads - played 2, conceded 0, 2 clean sheets.

Super work from all involved but the best defender on show this Saturday was the sturdy Admiral.

BRETT EMERTON - Now pushing David Dunn for favourite cult Rover status.

The man may be an Aussie but he has been here so long he is now an honourary Lancastrian.

On Saturday he did his 'usual' and by 'usual' I mean he was largely very good.

Fast, full of running, full of stamina and looking to cause trouble.
But I must say the defensive side of his game is now complete - when he first arrived at Ewood he was pulling out of tackles left, right and centre - but not anymore, fierce tackling has replaced that and Liverpool struggled to keep tabs on him.

I must also comment that in that midfield he really does dovetail well with fellow Aussie Vince Grella and Steven N'Zonzi - it all feels very balanced. Now for someo to step up on the left side!

NIKOLA KALINIC - Debut in the winners column for the Croatian! He was only on the pitch for twenty minutes but did enough in those twenty minutes to demonstrate that the barnstorming efforts of the Chelsea game was not a one off.

He now looks like a man that could fit the bill of a £6 million striker.

Strong as an ox and with an impressive turning circle, he creates space for himself with his movement. But the most impressive thing about Niko for me is the positions he can get himself into.

He is always in the right spot for a chance and apart from a hurried late miss he did enough to excite the Blackburn end.

The initial fears over Kalinic are quickly disappearing.

LOSERS

EL HADJI DIOUF - Becoming a liability. His snarling and effective work man like attitude is disintegrating into that of a small, petulant child.

He did sweet bugger all on Saturday and looked a pale shadow of the man who put in some good shifts last season.

Fair enough, he won some timely tackles and battled for the team but he is a winger - you need creativity to go alongside that as well.

Especially from a man who we all know has the talent - it almost makes us miss Morten not being out there! Almost.

FRANCO DI SANTO - Play to the whistle mate. He had a good all round shift and showed some neat touches against Liverpool but his chance of glory went begging again.

And this time it wasn't due to a good save or a smart stop - it was because of trying to dally and make certain of a goal, something you won't get against Liverpool.

A good chance to win the game gone and for once he was to blame.

THE LEFT SIDE OF MIDFIELD - Time for Junior Hoilett to get a spin me thinks.