Match Report

Match Report
Rain falls steadily from above here at Ewood Park where Blackburn Rovers play host to Fulham. A crowd of 17,684 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Blackburn Rovers are playing in a 4-2-4 formation while Fulham appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Dion Naylor.


0.00
The whistle blows and Fulham kick off!
2.34
Alex Appiah hits a low pass to Gabriel Castro. Gabriel Castro flicks a high pass forward to Victor Gimenez who brings the ball under control. Victor Gimenez shoots from distance. The keeper is more than a match for it. Great save!
8.57
Alex Appiah knocks the ball forward to Victor Gimenez. Victor Gimenez threads a neat ball through to Gabriel Castro. Gabriel Castro shoots from 20 yards but it is miles over!
9.48
Celestine Yekini brings the ball forward. Celestine Yekini deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Victor Gimenez. Victor Gimenez knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
12.57
Julian Menendez threads a neat ball through to Julian Clarke. Julian Clarke threads a neat ball through to Gene Fucito. Gene Fucito threads a neat, attacking ball through to Jaime Varela. Jaime Varela shows great control and tries a shot on goal but it flies just off target!
16.31
Silvain Hansma catches Celestine Yekini on the ankles. The referee calls over Silvain Hansma and warns him to calm down! Celestine Yekini stretches but gets up unharmed.
20.52
Julian Clarke hits a low pass to Maarten Van Der Elst. Maarten Van Der Elst sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it flies well off target!
24.43
Gabriel Castro flicks a high pass forward. Wilco Seedorf holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Wilco Seedorf lofts in a cross ball towards Spencer Newton. Spencer Newton powers a header at goal but it is tipped over by John Pallister.
25.53
Corner kick to Blackburn Rovers. Alfred Thirlwell plays it to the far post. John Pallister drops low and scoops up the ball.
27.20
Victor Gimenez flicks a high pass forward. Tonton Dahlin collects the pass. Tonton Dahlin lofts in a cross ball towards Wilco Seedorf. Wilco Seedorf beats his man to it with a header. Magnificent block by Neil Croft!
30.24
Julian Clarke deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Jaime Varela. Jaime Varela shoots from outside the area. The ball comes in low, but Vladimir Keown smothers it!
33.02
Norman Harrison catches Julian Clarke on the ankles. Norman Harrison is given a warning by the referee! Julian Clarke hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
36.42
Neil Croft flicks the ball to his team mate, Jaime Varela. Jaime Varela flicks a high pass forward. Silvain Hansma controls it well on his chest. Silvain Hansma knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
38.53
Chris Kantelberg makes a simple pass to Lukas Sierra. Lukas Sierra kicks a strong pass forward to Maarten Van Der Elst. Maarten Van Der Elst shoots from 20 yards but it's drastically wayward!
40.11
Julian Clarke flicks a high pass forward to Silvain Hansma who brings the ball under control. Silvain Hansma knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Norman Harrison.
42.10
Gabriel Castro flicks a high pass forward. Wilco Seedorf holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Wilco Seedorf knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Julian Menendez.
44.07
Lukas Sierra knocks the ball forward to Silvain Hansma. Silvain Hansma knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Blackburn Rovers appear unchanged since the first half. Fulham also appear unchanged since the first half. The Fulham players look more motivated than they were before.

45.00
Blackburn Rovers kick off the second half!
54.19
Lukas Sierra makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Oscar Delgado. Oscar Delgado makes a simple pass to Julian Clarke. Julian Clarke shoots from outside the area. Solid save from Vladimir Keown.
55.26
Gabriel Castro flicks a high ball forward to Alfred Thirlwell who takes it down. Alfred Thirlwell knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Julian Menendez.
57.44
Oscar Delgado threads the ball through to Silvain Hansma. Silvain Hansma sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Fulham!
65.30
Seeing a gap ahead, Gabriel Castro plays the ball forward to Tonton Dahlin. Tonton Dahlin lofts in a cross ball towards Wilco Seedorf. Wilco Seedorf fearlessly jumps in, powering the ball goalwards with his head. John Pallister is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
71.07
Jaime Varela knocks the ball to his team mate, Lukas Sierra. Lukas Sierra passes the ball forward to Silvain Hansma. Silvain Hansma lofts in a cross ball towards Oscar Delgado. Oscar Delgado powers a header at goal. The ball flies towards the top corner but the keeper is able to reach it. Excellent save!
72.46
Seeing a gap ahead, Anthony Dichio plays the ball forward to Celestine Yekini. Celestine Yekini decides to run forward with the ball. Celestine Yekini plays a scrappy one-two with Victor Gimenez and stumbles forward towards the goal... Chris Kantelberg barges into Celestine Yekini. Celestine Yekini appeals for a penalty! The referee just ignores him!!
75.24
Jaime Varela threads a neat ball through to Lukas Sierra. Lukas Sierra sees space and advances. Lukas Sierra plays a one-two with Silvain Hansma and rushes in on goal... Lukas Sierra strikes a beautiful right-footed shot at goal. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
77.39
Blackburn Rovers have made 3 substitutions with Julian Izzet replacing Anthony Dichio, Harry McManaman replacing Wilco Seedorf and Jamie Bramble replacing Alfred Thirlwell .
78.40
Julian Clarke makes a simple pass to Gene Fucito. Seeing a gap ahead, Gene Fucito plays the ball forward to Maarten Van Der Elst who has made a great run into the box. Maarten Van Der Elst takes a shot at goal. The ball comes in low, but Vladimir Keown smothers it!
83.38
Julian Menendez catches Norman Harrison on the ankles. Julian Menendez is given a warning by the referee! Norman Harrison carries on, but is struggling a bit.
84.27
Gabriel Castro flicks a high pass forward. Spencer Newton collects the pass. Spencer Newton shoots from outside the area but it flies wide!
87.55
Norman Harrison clumsily knocks into Gene Fucito. Norman Harrison is given another warning by the referee! Gene Fucito hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
90.00
The referee blows for full-time

Match Statistics
Goals
1
1
Shots on Target
4
5
Shots off Target
2
4
Offsides
0
1
Fouls
2
2
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
37.6%
62.4%
Play Area
30.6%
41.2%
28.2%


Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Julian Clarke of Fulham

Match Ratings
1.Vladimir Keown (GK)
8
2.Celestine Yekini (DEF)
7
3.Alex Appiah (DEF)
6
4.Norman Harrison (DEF)
6
5.Anthony Dichio (DEF)
6
6.Alfred Thirlwell (MID)
6
7.Gabriel Castro (MID)
8
8.Wilco Seedorf (ATT)goal scored
8
9.Tonton Dahlin (ATT)
7
10.Spencer Newton (ATT)
6
11.Victor Gimenez (ATT)
6
 
12.Julian Izzet (MID)
6
13.Harry McManaman (DEF)
6
14.Jamie Bramble (GK)
6

1.John Pallister (GK)
7
2.Julian Menendez (DEF)
6
3.Chris Kantelberg (DEF)
7
4.Neil Croft (DEF)
7
5.Oscar Delgado (MID)
7
6.Lukas Sierra (MID)
8
7.Julian Clarke (MID)
8
8.Jaime Varela (MID)
7
9.Gene Fucito (ATT)
6
10.Maarten Van Der Elst (ATT)
6
11.Silvain Hansma (ATT)goal scored
8
 
12.Steve Gray (ATT)
0
13.Silvio Vieira (ATT)
0
14.Emile Powell (DEF)
0