Match Report


Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers     Stoke CityStoke City
Steve BullockSteve Bullock Jamie Downing Jamie Downing
Jonas BierhoffJ. Bierhoff69
G
1
G
75Eduardo SerranoE. Serrano
Abel NevesA. Neves68
D
2
D
69Alejandro CaballeroA. Caballero
Brenny StroeveB. Stroeve63
D
captain3
D
79Oleksiy KryvenkoO. Kryvenko
Ricardo AndresR. Andres66
D
4
D
69Ernesto AlonsoE. Alonso
Edgar PostigaE. Postiga51
D
5
M
74Eduardo GonzalezE. Gonzalez
Arturo RamirezA. Ramirez72
M
6
M
77Omer WinterburnO. Winterburn
Mark TalanM. Talan68
M
7
M
72Ben WoodgateB. Woodgate
Carlton BarmbyC. Barmby67
M
8
M
77Isaiah CoppingerI. Coppinger
Artur LopesA. Lopes69
A
9
A
73Craig RowettC. Rowett
Julian LeonJ. Leon63
A
10captain
A
71Antonino RegonesiA. Regonesi
Alassan DaboA. Dabo73
A
11
A
71Tommy MercerT. Mercer
 
Warren PearsonW. Pearson42
D
12
M
79Graham KingG. King
Gerald DialloG. Diallo68
M
13
M
73Herve YapiH. Yapi
Wouter Van MolW. Van Mol65
A
14
A
74Norman JohnsonN. Johnson

Graphic Ace
today's match is sponsored by Graphic Ace
Match Report
There are a few clouds overhead here at Ewood Park where Blackburn Rovers play host to Stoke City. Its a sell-out today with the 10,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Blackburn Rovers are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Stoke City appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Alfred Lofthouse.


0.00
Blackburn Rovers kick off and get the first half underway!
4.54
Mark Talan makes a simple pass to Julian Leon. Julian Leon plays a sublime one-two with Artur Lopes and races in on goal... Julian Leon shows great control and tries a shot on goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is on top of it. Nice keeping!
6.53
Craig Rowett flicks a high pass forward to Tommy Mercer who brings the ball under control. Tommy Mercer shoots from 25 yards. The ball edges inside the post - goal!!
9.25
Edgar Postiga flicks a high ball forward to Carlton Barmby who gracefully takes it down. Carlton Barmby threads a neat ball through to Arturo Ramirez. Arturo Ramirez makes a pass forward but Julian Leon is yards offside!
10.51
Ben Woodgate kicks a strong pass forward to Tommy Mercer. Tommy Mercer skips past Brenny Stroeve! Some good footwork from Tommy Mercer provides some space. He shoots at goal. It's there!! Jonas Bierhoff has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
15.19
Carlton Barmby hacks Antonino Regonesi from behind! The referee warns Carlton Barmby to calm down! Antonino Regonesi hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
16.02
Alassan Dabo flicks a high pass forward. Artur Lopes controls it well on his chest. Artur Lopes whips in a cross ball towards Arturo Ramirez. With a superhuman jump, Arturo Ramirez connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. Eduardo Serrano manages to gather it.
20.44
Isaiah Coppinger sees space and advances. Isaiah Coppinger shoots from 20 yards but Jonas Bierhoff is on top of it.
22.40
With some swift thinking, Arturo Ramirez plays the ball forward to Alassan Dabo. Alassan Dabo deftly passes the ball to Artur Lopes, releasing him through on goal. Artur Lopes cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal but it whistles just wide of the post!
26.35
Ernesto Alonso kicks a strong pass forward to Isaiah Coppinger. Isaiah Coppinger knocks the ball to his team mate, Craig Rowett. Craig Rowett shoots from 25 yards but somehow Jonas Bierhoff manages to keep it out.
30.19
Alassan Dabo threads a neat ball through to Arturo Ramirez. Arturo Ramirez finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Blackburn Rovers!
33.33
Julian Leon comes in with a late challenge on Oleksiy Kryvenko. The referee warns Julian Leon to calm down! Oleksiy Kryvenko runs off the knock.
34.27
Ben Woodgate flicks a high pass forward to Omer Winterburn who brings the ball under control. Omer Winterburn knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Ricardo Andres.
38.40
Eduardo Gonzalez deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Isaiah Coppinger. Isaiah Coppinger shoots from long range but somehow Jonas Bierhoff manages to keep it out.
39.43
Edgar Postiga powers a long ball forward. Julian Leon flicks the ball to his team mate, Artur Lopes. Artur Lopes looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal but it flies just wide!
40.10
Alejandro Caballero sweeps the ball long. Craig Rowett cuts inside the box! Some silky footwork from Craig Rowett provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but he gets too far under it and it goes high into the crowd!
44.30
Ricardo Andres controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Julian Leon. Julian Leon threads a neat ball through to Mark Talan. Mark Talan tries a spectacular long range effort but it slams into the crowd!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half

Both teams emerge for the second half. Blackburn Rovers appear unchanged since the first half. Stoke City have changed their lineup with Graham King replacing Omer Winterburn and Herve Yapi replacing Ben Woodgate. The Blackburn Rovers players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.

45.00
The second half starts with Stoke City kicking off!
49.13
Abel Neves flicks a high pass forward. Arturo Ramirez controls it well on his chest. Arturo Ramirez flicks a high pass forward. Alassan Dabo controls it well on his chest. Alassan Dabo plays a one-two with Mark Talan and rushes in on goal... Alassan Dabo side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. Alassan Dabo scores for Blackburn Rovers!!
54.04
Oleksiy Kryvenko passes the ball forward to Antonino Regonesi. Antonino Regonesi makes a defence splitting pass to Isaiah Coppinger. Some silky footwork from Isaiah Coppinger provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal but he balloons it over the crossbar!
55.28
Isaiah Coppinger kicks a strong pass forward to Antonino Regonesi. Antonino Regonesi shoots from 25 yards. The ball rattles the crossbar bouncing back into play. The loose ball is cleared by the defence.
63.23
Ernesto Alonso barges into Julian Leon. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Julian Leon runs off the knock.
65.24
Ernesto Alonso flicks a high pass forward. Herve Yapi collects the pass. Herve Yapi knocks the ball forward to Graham King. Graham King whips in a cross ball towards Craig Rowett. Craig Rowett is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal but it curls horrendously wide!
67.34
Mark Talan passes the ball forward to Julian Leon. Julian Leon passes the ball forward but Mark Talan is offside!
72.31
Carlton Barmby clumsily knocks into Eduardo Gonzalez. The referee calls over Carlton Barmby and shows him a yellow card! Eduardo Gonzalez hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
73.21
Oleksiy Kryvenko flicks the ball to his team mate, Antonino Regonesi. Antonino Regonesi makes a beautiful solo run. Antonino Regonesi knocks in a cross ball towards Tommy Mercer. Tommy Mercer is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
77.37
Brenny Stroeve flicks a high pass forward. Arturo Ramirez holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Arturo Ramirez flicks the ball to his team mate, Artur Lopes. Artur Lopes whips in a cross ball towards Julian Leon. Julian Leon beats his man to it with a header but it rises well off target!
81.53
Herve Yapi makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Isaiah Coppinger. Isaiah Coppinger shoots from distance. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
87.22
Mark Talan threads a neat ball through to Carlton Barmby. Carlton Barmby shoots from outside the area but it's a woeful effort!
90.00
The referee blows the final whistle

Match Statistics
 

Blackburn Rovers

Stoke City
Goals
2
3
Shots on Target
4
6
Shots off Target
5
5
Offsides
2
0
Fouls
3
1
Yellow Cards
1
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
44.2%
55.8%
Play Area
27.3%
44.2%
28.6%

Scorers
Arturo Ramirez 30
Alassan Dabo 49
Tommy Mercer 7, 11, 73

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Tommy Mercer of Stoke City

Match Ratings
1.Jonas Bierhoff (GK)
6
2.Abel Neves (DEF)
6
3.Brenny Stroeve (DEF)
6
4.Ricardo Andres (DEF)
6
5.Edgar Postiga (DEF)
6
6.Arturo Ramirez (MID)goal scored
7
7.Mark Talan (MID)
6
8.Carlton Barmby (MID)yellow card
5
9.Artur Lopes (ATT)
6
10.Julian Leon (ATT)
6
11.Alassan Dabo (ATT)goal scored
8
 
12.Warren Pearson (DEF)
0
13.Gerald Diallo (MID)
0
14.Wouter Van Mol (ATT)
0

1.Eduardo Serrano (GK)
6
2.Alejandro Caballero (DEF)
6
3.Oleksiy Kryvenko (DEF)
6
4.Ernesto Alonso (DEF)yellow card
6
5.Eduardo Gonzalez (MID)
6
6.Omer Winterburn (MID)
6
7.Ben Woodgate (MID)
6
8.Isaiah Coppinger (MID)
6
9.Craig Rowett (ATT)
7
10.Antonino Regonesi (ATT)
7
11.Tommy Mercer (ATT)goal scoredgoal scoredgoal scored
9
 
12.Graham King (MID)
6
13.Herve Yapi (MID)
6
14.Norman Johnson (ATT)
0