It's goalless at half-time at Ewood Park after a fairly uneventful first half in which chances were hard to come by. Bowyer will be pleased that his side improved over the course of the half, but concerned by the fact that Marshall was forced off with a potentially serious ankle injury. Derby started better, but Rovers went closest to opening the scoring when Gestede's powerful header was tipped over the bar by Grant. The rest of the half saw both sides sloppily give away possession and fail to string passes together and find openings, although both teams were forced into a substitution and there will be some concern that Marshall's injury could be relatively serious. View full article

Birmingham lead at the break after a rather uninspiring first half produced one goal for the home side. Neither team has been particularly good and there has been a severe lack of quality in the attacking halves, but a goal from Morrison has given the home side the lead. The match got off to a slow start as both sides gave away possession easily and struggled to mount any dangerous attacks. Rovers gradually settled into the match and looked dangerous through King, with Pedersen pushing forward from central midfield to support the attacks, but they were unable to create any real openings. Rhodes had their best chance of the half when he intercepted a poor backpass, but Butland did well to come out and get a hand to the ball. Birmingham slowly found their stride and had a number of half-chances through Zigic, Redmond and Burke, but were mainly limited to efforts from long range. As the half wore on Birmingham began to find some joy on the wings and took the lead when Morrison was able to cut inside and easily make his way into the box before firing a left-footed effort past Sandomierski. As things stand Rovers look certain to stay up, but a win could move them up several places and Bowyer and his side will be hoping for an improved performance in the second half. View full article

With the start of the season just over a month away, Blackburn Rovers are still waiting on their first signing of the summer transfer window. Whilst the only activity so far has been the departure of Phil Jones to Manchester United, the club will also need to replace Jermaine Jones, Mame Biram Diouf and Roque Santa Cruz, who have all left Ewood Park following the end of their loan spells. Bringing in a true goalscorer appears to be the priority, but reports, both on BRFCS and in the media, suggest that Kean and the owners are also looking to add to the midfield and bring in a central defender to replace Phil Jones. The club has been linked with a host of high-profile forwards over the past few weeks, most notably Marko Vucinic (AS Roma), Papiss Demba Cisse (SC Freiburg) and, over the past 48 hours, Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur). The stumbling block appears to be the fee and the confusion over just how much money the owners are actually willing to spend. The £16.5m fee for Jones (possibly rising to £20m+) is to be paid in instalments, so without considerable investment by the Rao family it is unlikely that the club can make any big summer signings. Vucinic and Cisse were rumoured to be in the £15–20m range and both had large wage demands. Reports suggested that the club had envisaged a war-chest somewhere in the region of £25–30m, but over the past fortnight doubts have crept in as to how much money is actually available. Talk of splashing out big money on a forward has died down slightly, although the Defoe link may have some substance to it. Whilst attention was focused on bringing in a star striker, it appears that the club may have missed out on one or two of the other targets that they were chasing. There were strong links with Pablo Piatti (UD Almeria), but a bid was never made and the Argentine international moved to Valencia for €7.5m. Rovers have reportedly made two bids for the Belgian international Axel Witsel (Standard Liege), but have yet to meet the valuation of the Belgian club. It looks as though the defensive midfielder will be leaving Standard Liege, although Benfica are now favourites to land the player. To add to this disappointment, little progress has been made in finding a Phil Jones replacement. Rovers tried to hijack Atletico Madrid's move for the Brazilian defender Joao Miranda, but this proved unsuccessful. It appears as though a deal has been agreed for the Monaco central defender Cedric Mongongu, but the move has yet to be finalised as doubts over the size of the transfer budget appear to be holding back any moves. Overall it has been a rather disappointing and confusing fortnight for Rovers fans. Initial reports of big budgets and big signings have been replaced by the all-too-familiar story of free signings and players in on trial. It will be interesting to see what the Rao-Kean-Kentaro triumvirate come up with, but whatever it is, we'll try and keep you informed here at BRFCS. View full article

Charlton Athletic beat Rovers 1-0 at Ewood Park thanks to a first-half goal from Simon Church. It was a match of few chances and the home side were never able to get back into the match, even as they piled on the pressure in the second half. Charlton took the lead in the 7th minute when Stephens' intelligent clipped ball allowed Church to get in behind the Rovers' defence and he controlled the ball on his chest before producing an excellent volleyed finish. The rest of the half saw both sides struggle to create any real openings, although Lowe fired over when he really should have done better. Rovers had the better of the second half and saw several decent half-chances go to waste. Lowe nearly brought them level with a half-volley from distance, but his effort was deflected just wide of the post. Bowyer sent DJ Campbell on for his first appearance of the season and stuck Scott Dann up front in an effort to get an equaliser, but Charlton held out. It was Rovers' second defeat on the bounce and Bowyer will be hoping to quickly right the ship as the team looks to keep up with the promotion contenders. View full article

Blackburn Rovers may have picked up a vital win against Barnsley yesterday, but a dark cloud still looms large over Ewood Park. This last week's sacking of Henning Berg means that Rovers are now looking for a new manager for the second time in as many months — not quite what was expected from the pre-season promotion hopefuls. Even after yesterday's win Rovers are well off the promotion places and will need to drastically improve if they are to have any chance of making the play-offs. Whilst performances and results have been disappointing, however, the Rovers faithful are far more concerned with activities taking place away from the pitch. It seems that the power struggle at the top is continuing as Singh, Agnew and Shaw continue to fight for top-dog status. The goings-on at Ewood Park are more befitting of a soap opera than a professional football club and it doesn't look like the circus will be leaving town anytime soon. There is a great deal of speculation suggesting that either Singh or Agnew had some influence over the team selections during Berg's tenure and that has to raise serious questions about how the club is being run. Paul Agnew was promoted to the role of operations director in the summer and, although he has been working for Rovers for over 16 years, it is difficult to explain why the former press and public relations officer should have been entrusted with making serious decisions relating to the club's administration. Shebby Singh, who came to the club last summer as the newly appointed global advisor of the Venky's, seemingly played a key role in the capture of Jordan Rhodes and in forcing Steve Kean out of the door. He deserves some credit for both of those achievements, but any good work he may have done is now being overshadowed by rumours that suggest that the former TV pundit has the desire to influence team selections. In Saturday's Mirror it was reported that managing director Derek Shaw has called for Singh to be removed from his position and Shaw will be pleading his case to the owners during his trip to India. This represents a high-water mark for the in-fighting, while the club continues to carry out its business in the public domain. Supporters had hoped that things might improve when Steve Kean resigned. However, any optimism that followed his departure has vanished and it is now apparent that the managerial position is only a small area of concern. When viewed from a distance, the situation is farcical, but for Rovers supporters it is heartbreaking. Not long ago the club was able to pride itself on being well run and on the fact that it was respected throughout football. Results were never guaranteed and the threat of relegation from the Premier League never seemed far away, but supporters at least knew that the decision-makers had the club's best interests in mind. Those days are long gone and experience has been replaced by incompetence. The next managerial appointment is the last vestige of hope. If, by some miracle, someone qualified for the position is appointed, then there is a chance that sensible decisions might be made regarding the team; however, even if that does happen, it is unlikely that the off-the-field problems will be resolved anytime soon. Join in the discussion on the forum here. View full article

Rovers will look to pick up a vital three points against a promotion rival at the Riverside today. Dunn and Gestede retain their places, while January signings Varney, Dabo and Conway are on the bench. Middlesbrough Given, Varga, Woodgate, Gibson, Friend, Ledesma, Leadbitter, Chalobah, Whitehead, Carayol, Graham Substitutes: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Hines, Main, Omeruo, Adomah, Kamara Blackburn Rovers Robinson, Kane, Hanley, Kilgallon, Spurr, Cairney, Dunn, Lowe, Taylor, Rhodes, Gestede Substitutes: Eastwood, Varney, Williamson, Dabo, Henley, Evans, Conway View full article

Bowyer has made four changes to the side that disappointed midweek against Ipswich. Eastwood replaces Kean between the sticks after a poor run of form from the young keeper. Kane misses out through suspension, whilst Campbell and King are also dropped, with Henley, Marshall and Taylor coming in as their replacements. The match also sees Hoilett play against Rovers for the first time since he left the club last summer. Queens Park Rangers Green, Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Phillips, Johnson, Austin, Carroll, Barton, Hoilett, Assou-Ekotto Substitutes: Murphy, Traore, Onuoha, Jenas, Kranjcar, Henry, O'Neil Blackburn Rovers Eastwood, Spurr, Hanley, Lowe, Rhodes, Marshall, Dann, Williamson, Taylor, Henley, Cairney Substitutes: Kean, Kilgallon, King, Dunn, Campbell, Rochina, Judge View full article

Gary Bowyer makes two changes to the side that beat Leeds at the weekend. Williamson returns to the side to replace Taylor, who misses because of personal reasons, while DJ Campbell fills in for David Dunn, who is rested. Rudy Gestede, who signed on loan last week, is named on the bench and could make his debut. Ipswich Town Gerken, Cresswell, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Edwards, Skuse, McGoldrick, Hunt, Hyam, Nouble Substitutes: Loach, Murphy, Anderson, Mings, Tunnicliffe, Graham, Tabb Blackburn Rovers Kean, Kane, Spurr, Hanley, Lowe, King, Campbell, Rhodes, Dann, Williamson, Cairney Substitutes: Eastwood, Kilgallon, Marshall, Rochina, Judge, Henley, Gestede View full article

Grant Hanley begins his three match ban and is replaced by Scott Dann, while Ben Marshall steps in to replace Corry Evans who was injured on international duty. Blackburn Rovers Kean, Kane, Spurr, Dann, Kilgallon, Marshall, Cairney, Lowe, King, Rhodes, Best Substitutes: Eastwood, Campbell, Williamson, Taylor, Marrow, Morris, Judge Charlton Athletic Hamer, Wilson, Wiggins, Cousins, Morrison, Wood, Pritchard, Stephens, Church, Sordell, Stewart Substitutes: Evina, Jackson, Dervite, Green, Alnwick, Kermorgant, Gower View full article

Rovers controlled possession in the first half, but neither side has managed to put themselves in front and the match is goalless at the break. Rovers went closest through Rhodes and looked dangerous when getting the ball out wide and putting crosses into the Huddersfield box, but so far Smithies and Kean have been relatively untested in their respective goals. The match got off to an even start, but Rovers soon hit their stride and began to control the match. King, Cairney and Spurr all put testing balls into the Huddersfield box, but despite a number of half-chances the home side has been unable to find the net. Rhodes went closest to giving Rovers the lead when he slid in to make contact with King's cross, but the ball went narrowly wide of the post after rebounding off Smithies. As the half wore on, the match was played almost entirely in the Huddersfield half, but Rovers have been unable to turn their dominance into goals. It has been an encouraging performance from Rovers and they will be eager to pick up their first win in three matches following last week's draw with Burnley and the midweek defeat at Leicester. View full article

Gary Bowyer has made one change to the side that lost midweek against Leicester, with Chris Taylor returning to the starting line-up in the place of Ben Marshall. Blackburn Rovers Kean, Kane, Spurr, Hanley, Lowe, King, Rhodes, Taylor, Dann, Evans, Cairney Substitutes: Eastwood, Kilgallon, Olsson, Marshall, Williamson, Best, Judge Huddersfield Town Smithies, Dixon, Clarke, Hogg, Clayton, Vaughan, Hammill, Stead, Richards, Lynch, Gerrard Substitutes: Bennett, Woods, Norwood, Scannell, Gobern, Paterson, Carr View full article

Rovers picked up their second win of the season after an impressive performance saw them beat Bolton 4-1. A first Rovers goal for Corry Evans and goals from Rhodes (2) and Dunn saw Rovers pick up the three points and move into the top half of the table. Bolton perhaps slightly edged the opening quarter of the match and should have taken the lead when Beckford was slipped through on goal by Ngog, but the striker failed to find the power necessary to beat Kean in the Rovers goal. Rhodes then had a chance to put Rovers ahead, but he failed to react quickly enough after Wheater had missed Dunn's cross and the Scotland international was unable to control his header. Despite that miss, Rovers were soon ahead when King's pace allowed Rovers to break and the winger cut the ball back across the box for Dunn, who neatly beat three Bolton defenders before sliding the ball past Bogdan. It was an extremely well-taken goal and only 90 seconds later Dunn turned provider when he played the ball into Rhodes who turned with the help of a deflection off Knight and then took a moment to compose himself before firing into the bottom corner. It was a quickfire double for Rovers and put them firmly in control of the match. Rovers were full of confidence and surging forward and Marshall nearly grabbed a debut goal when his controlled effort from the edge of the box was acrobatically tipped onto the post by Bogdan and the rebound nearly fell to Rhodes to tap in, but Bolton eventually managed to clear the ball. Rhodes then produced a powerful left-footed shot that forced Bogdan into another good save and it looked as though the match could soon turn into a rout, but as the half drew to a close Bolton got back into it. Kean failed to properly gather a shot and Bolton were able to retain possession and rebuild an attack and after a neat interplay of short passes Baptiste found space in the box and hammered the ball across Kean and into the net. It was poor defending from Rovers and another costly mistake from Kean, who has had a shaky start to this season. Bolton started brightly after the break and Beckford had the first chance of the half when he did well to control a pass over the top, but he poked his effort harmlessly wide of the goal. The away side then went agonisingly close to levelling things up when Ngog broke into the Rovers area and evaded the challenges of two defenders when he cut the ball back as he feigned to shoot, but his effort was cleared off the line by Kane after the right-back had done well to position himself perfectly behind Kean. It looked as though either side could grab the next goal, but Rovers restored their two-goal advantage when the ball dropped to Evans outside of the box and the summer signing produced a sweetly-hit volley that flew into the back of the net with the help of a deflection. That goal restored Rovers' confidence and King nearly put the game to bed after he shrugged off a challenge before his powerful effort from the edge of the box whistled past the post and moments later he drove at the Bolton penalty area again but fired over after he had done well to create the opportunity. Rovers did seal the win only moments later when Kane did well to get his cross in and Rhodes was on hand to apply the finish from close range. Rhodes had received some criticism for his performances in the first three matches this season, but that makes it four goals in two games for the forward as he looks to be returning to goalscoring form. With the last kick of the game Cairney nearly added a fifth, but his left-footed effort curled just wide of the far post. It was a good win for Rovers and an encouraging display of attacking prowess, with excellent passing in a match that the home side controlled from almost start to finish. Kean's errors will be some cause for concern for Bowyer and his staff, but there are certainly a number of positives to take from the last two matches and he will be hopeful that the good run will continue after the international break when Rovers face Burnley. View full article

Rovers' early season struggles have continued after they slumped to a disappointing defeat away to newly promoted Doncaster. It was Rovers' third defeat on the bounce and leaves them with only one point and one goal from their opening three league games. Their inability to keep clean sheets and the tendency to concede sloppy goals will be worrying and, whilst it is still very early in the season, Bowyer and his side will not want to find themselves condemned to another relegation fight. The match got off to an even start and neither side looked particularly threatening going forward. Rovers looked most dangerous from set-pieces and spurned their best chance of the half when Hanley headed over from a corner midway through the first half. Rhodes then rounded the Doncaster keeper, but fired wide from a difficult angle and Rovers were punished for their inability to put the Championship newboys to the sword when the home side took the lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half. A quick free-kick caught Rovers out and the good delivery left Theo Robinson with the simple task of heading home from close range. The lead may have slightly flattered the home side and Rovers responded well at the start of the second half and should have put themselves back on level terms, but Taylor failed to find the net when he looked certain to score. Rovers looked the more likely to grab the next goal, but Doncaster doubled their lead when James Husband's mishit cross caught Kean out in the Rovers goal. There may be some questions asked of the goalkeeper's reactions to the cross and it has certainly been a disappointing start to the season for Kean, who has now made costly errors in consecutive matches. Rovers never fully recovered from falling two behind and Doncaster nearly added to their lead as the match wore on, with the away side looking weary and out of ideas. It marks a poor start to the season for Rovers and Bowyer will know that results will need to pick up soon. It is still very early on and there should be no need for knee-jerk reactions from the club's management or supporters, but points will be needed from the upcoming fixtures. Rovers were not helped by the fact that several of their players took part in midweek international fixtures, but a side containing a number of internationals and high earners should have performed better against a team that was only promoted from League One via the playoffs last season. View full article

Rovers have once again fallen behind as they look to pick up their first win of the season. It was an even first half in which chances were few and far between, but the home side took the lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the opening period. The match got off to an even start, although neither side was able to play with much fluency or regularly create chances. Rovers' biggest threat looked to be from set-pieces, where they consistently put the Doncaster defenders under pressure around the six-yard box. Grant Hanley had Rovers' best chance of the match when he headed over from a corner and the away side were punished for their profligacy only minutes later when a good delivery from a quick free-kick allowed Theo Robinson to head home from close range. Rovers are perhaps unfortunate to be behind, but they will know that it is important that they start to pick points up sooner rather than later and will feel that there is still a good chance that they can get back into this match. View full article

Rovers and Forest are level at the break after an even first half in which both sides had a number of half-chances. Jordan Rhodes went closest to opening the lead, but put his header wide when he really should have done better. Jordan Rhodes and Leon Best have looked lively up front and have linked up well as Rovers return to 4-4-2 as a result of the injury to Ruben Rochina. View full article

Rovers and Palace are level at half-time as Rovers are looking to ensure their survival. Palace took the lead through Dobbie, but Jordan Rhodes grabbed his 28th league goal of the season to level things up just before half-time. The opening exchanges were fast and end to end as Palace pressed for a goal with their typical attacking and open style of play. Their pace up front was causing the Rovers back four considerable trouble, particularly when Zaha was able to run with the ball, but Rovers were able to occasionally threaten on the break. It appeared as though Rovers were suffering from the fact that many of the players were severely lacking match fitness and, as the half wore on, Palace began to assert themselves. In the 28th minute Dobbie danced around Hanley before firing past a helpless Sandomierski in the Rovers goal to put Palace in front. It was a deserved lead for the away side and Dobbie nearly grabbed his second minutes later when his free-kick whistled inches past the post with Sandomierski at full stretch. With half-time approaching, King played a long ball into space and Rhodes fought off a defender to get to the ball first and lift it over the on-rushing Speroni. It was a delicate finish with the outside of his right foot and it was the kind of confidence and composure in front of goal that Rhodes has been showing all season. A win would ensure that Rovers would stay in the Championship next season, but even a point could prove vital in their fight against relegation. View full article

Rovers picked up a vital win in their fight against relegation as they beat fellow strugglers Huddersfield at Ewood Park. Jordan Rhodes scored against his former side and Rovers kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive match to move further clear of the relegation zone. The match got off to a fast pace and frantic start, with both sides pushing forward in search of a goal. Rovers soon settled into a good rhythm and were making good use of the full width of the pitch, with Olsson and King causing Huddersfield considerable trouble with their pace. Williamson and Jones soon began to win the midfield battle and Rovers were putting Huddersfield under pressure with good set-pieces and dangerous crosses and it was a corner that eventually saw them take the lead. Jones' cross was headed back across goal by Dann and Jordan Rhodes neatly finished with his back to goal. The goal was no more than Rovers deserved and Rhodes' goal silenced the away support that had targeted him throughout the first half. The second half continued in a similar vein, with the significance of the match forcing both sides to push forward in search of a goal. Rovers continued to make good use of the wings and Best had two decent chances to double the advantage, but eventually Huddersfield came more into the match. Sandomierski did well to save from Beckford after the forward had found space to turn and shoot inside of the box, and the substitute looked a dangerous threat for the away side. Huddersfield pressed forward and put numerous crosses into the Rovers box, but the back four stood firm and Goodwillie and Dunn had chances on the break. In the end Rovers survived the 5 additional minutes and the full-time whistle was met by rapturous applause from a relieved Ewood Park. The win sees Rovers move two points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand and a significant goal difference advantage over most of their nearest rivals. Several of the other sides at the bottom also picked up points, meaning that Rovers will still need to pick up several more points from their remaining four fixtures if they are to be certain of staying up, but these two recent wins have been vital. Gary Bowyer and his side appear to have stopped the rot and survival is very much in their own hands. Bowyer will no doubt be pleased that Givet was able to play the full 90 minutes and put in a resolute display at the back and the former France international's fitness will be crucial with Hanley suspended for the upcoming match against Watford. View full article

Rovers deservedly lead at the break in their crucial relegation six-pointer against Huddersfield. Rovers have looked threatening going forward and have caused Huddersfield a number of problems with their crosses and set-pieces and took the lead when Jordan Rhodes grabbed his 25th goal for Rovers. The match got off to a fast start and both sides looked to press forward. Rovers got the ball wide and the pace of Olsson and King caused Huddersfield considerable trouble. The home side gradually began to win the midfield battle and Jones, Olsson and King all had efforts on goal as Rovers slowly increased the pressure. Williamson and Jones began to control the game and it was from Jones' corner that they eventually broke the deadlock. Dann did well to head the ball back towards goal and Jordan Rhodes, against his former club, hooked the ball home with his back to goal. The striker had been the target of the Huddersfield supporters for most of the half and he will have no doubt enjoyed scoring a crucial goal against his former club. Rovers kept the pressure up after the goal, but have so far been unable to find a second. This is a must-win for Bowyer and his side and they will undoubtedly be pleased with the quality of the performance so far. View full article

Gary Bowyer has named four changes to the side that beat Derby County on Saturday. Both Grant Hanley and Colin Kazim-Richards picked up their tenth booking of the season and so miss out through suspension, whilst Morris and Dunn drop to the bench. There are recalls for Best, Markus Olsson, King and, most interestingly, Givet. The Frenchman has rarely featured for Rovers this season, but will have a big part to play if Rovers are to win their fight against relegation. Blackburn Rovers Sandomierski, Kane, Dann, Givet, Markus Olsson, King, Williamson, Lowe, Jones, Best, Rhodes Substitutes: Usai, Dunn, Pedersen, Gomes, Rekik, Morris, Goodwillie Huddersfield Town Smithies, Woods, Dixon, Norwood, Clarke, Gerrard, Scannell, Clayton, Vaughan, Danns, Southern Substitutes: Bennett, Gobern, Wallace, Arfield, Lee, Beckford, Lynch View full article

Rovers picked up a vital win that moved them out of the relegation zone after a solid performance saw them beat Derby 2–0 at Ewood Park. First-half goals from Jordan Rhodes and Scott Dann were enough to ensure the victory as Rovers move a step closer to ensuring their survival. Derby started brightly, but Rovers took the lead after Jones harassed two Derby players and found Rhodes in the box, who neatly turned before being taken down by Brayford. The Scottish international picked himself up and, for the second match in a row, converted a penalty to grab his 24th goal for Rovers this season. Derby nearly got onto level terms when Sandomierski attempted to chip the ball in the direction of Kane only to see his pass intercepted by Ward, but the forward's control let him down and Sandomierski was able to recover and make the save. It was a nervous moment for the Polish keeper, but it was the only one in an otherwise impressive performance. Rovers thought that they had doubled their lead from a corner shortly after, but Hanley's effort was headed up and onto his own crossbar by Coutts and made its way to safety. Despite that scare, it was Derby that were looking the more threatening and they should have got back onto level terms when Rovers were caught out by a quick free-kick and a cross found Martin unmarked six yards out, but his effort was straight at Sandomierski when it looked as though he was certain to score. Rovers were hanging on for half-time, but deep into first-half stoppage time they broke forward and won themselves a corner. Jones' cross missed a host of bodies in the box before hitting Dann, who seemed to know little about it, and the ball found its way into the net and doubled Rovers' advantage. It was a crucial goal that put Rovers firmly in control of a match that had looked very even up until that point. Rovers looked far more comfortable in the second half, no doubt boosted by the cushion of the second goal and Derby struggled to create any real openings. The Rovers back four, which has so often looked porous and error prone, looked confident and assured and the home side continued to threaten on the break. Rhodes should have put the match to bed when Sandomierski's long clearance put him in behind the Derby back four, but he failed to properly control the ball and his tame effort was easily saved by Fielding. Late in the game Sandomierski produced an excellent save to deny Davies from close range, but by then the win looked to be going the home side's way. It was a solid, if unspectacular, performance from Rovers and just what they need in their fight against relegation. The win sees them move out of the relegation zone and, with a game in hand and a superior goal difference, their destiny is very much in their own hands. The major negatives from today's match will have been the bookings for Hanley and Kazim-Richards and means that they will be suspended for two matches as they reached the 10-booking threshold before the April 13th deadline. That leaves Rovers worryingly shorthanded at the back and Bowyer will need to do some reshuffling for the next two matches, but he will no doubt be pleased with his first win during his second spell in charge. View full article

If Rovers fans were still in any doubt about the state of the club, this result and performance will have hammered home just what a mess it is in. Cardiff had too much pace, class and, most worryingly, determination for a Rovers side that has now not won in the league in nearly two months. The 3–0 scoreline was entirely deserved and Rovers should consider themselves fortunate that Cardiff failed to put the match to bed until late in the game. There were early warning signs that Cardiff posed a serious threat from set-pieces and throw-ins, but Barnett shot straight at Kean when the ball found its way to him in the area. Kean then flapped at a corner, but will have been relieved to see Campbell tamely head the ball straight into the ground when only a few yards out. Last-ditch defending helped to block shots from Connolly, Campbell and Bellamy, but Rovers were lucky that they didn't give away a penalty when it appeared that the ball struck Hanley's arms as he slid in to block a shot. The lucky escape seemed to spark Rovers into some sort of life and they had a goal disallowed when Pedersen's perfect ball into the box found Best, but the forward had strayed half a yard offside and he was denied his first goal for the club. Cardiff went straight up to the other end and another long throw-in caused havoc in the Rovers box, with the ball eventually finding its way to Campbell, but his volley hit the crossbar and bounced to safety. Minutes later Gunnarsson's throw-in once again created a chance for Cardiff, but Kean saved Bellamy's initial shot and Jones did well to get back and clear the Wales international's second effort off the line. It looked as though defensive resilience might see Rovers through until half-time, but from the subsequent corner Kean once again got nowhere near the ball and poor marking saw Campbell left with the simple task of heading home from a couple of yards out after he had peeled away to be unmarked at the far post. It was a terrible piece of defending, but the goal was no more than Cardiff deserved. Rovers finally appeared to settle into some sort of pattern of play at the beginning of the second half and began to push further forward and retain possession. The midfield, which had been dominated by Cardiff in the first half, was suddenly an even contest, but the home side appeared to be quite happy to allow Rovers to play in front of them. Rovers were forced into a substitution when Kean appeared to go down with an ankle injury. He had been in some pain in the first half, but this time he was unable to continue and was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Sandomierski. It was the on-loan Polish keeper's first appearance for the club, although he quickly began shouting out orders and controlling his back four. Rovers huffed and puffed, but created little and, for the second time in the match, were lucky to not give away a penalty when Danny Murphy's high foot caught a Cardiff City player in the face, but the referee gave the home side a free-kick right on the edge of the area when the incident had clearly occurred inside the box. That was Murphy's last contribution to the game, one in which he failed to have any sort of impact, with the former England midfielder replaced by Jordan Rhodes. Sandomierski did well to deny Turner after the central defender leapt above the Blackburn defence, but the substitute keeper could do little to prevent Mason from doubling Cardiff's advantage when he turned free from Kane. That goal effectively ended the match as a contest, although Kazim-Richards then clipped the crossbar with a clever chip, but Rovers appeared resigned to defeat. In the final minute of injury time Cardiff pushed forward again and Dann recklessly slid in on Mason, getting nowhere near the ball and giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Whittingham stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Sandomierski the wrong way, sealing a 3–0 victory for Cardiff that moves them one step closer to the Premier League and sends Rovers spiralling towards League One. The decision to leave Jordan Rhodes out of the side is perplexing. His game may be limited, but he has at least shown himself capable of scoring goals, something that the rest of the squad struggles to do. More baffling was the decision to reinstate Danny Murphy. Stripped of the captaincy and clearly unsuited to the physical nature of the Championship, he is a passenger in a midfield that is already devoid of quality, drive and commitment. It's hard to see how the side could get much worse, but it's even harder to see how it can get any better. The side remains out of the bottom three, but only on goal difference, and the possibility that the club may face the ignominy of back-to-back relegations is becoming greater by the day. Big names, by this standard alone, are failing to deliver and the side looks entirely clueless when going forward. It was Gary Bowyer's first defeat as caretaker manager, but he will have to quickly pick the team up and get a reaction from the players if they are to have any chance of staying in the division. Many of the clubs around them are building momentum; Rovers on the other hand are struggling to remember what winning feels like. The club is facing an unparallelled fall from grace. It is already the first team to have won the Premier League and been relegated; it soon may be the first former champion to find itself in League One. View full article

Rovers were totally outplayed in the opening 45 minutes of today's match against Cardiff City and deservedly trail at the break. The home side have controlled proceedings and the ball has rarely left the Rovers half, with Cardiff finally breaking the deadlock when Frazier Campbell headed home from close range. There were early warning signs for Rovers when Barnett fired straight at the keeper and Cardiff could have easily taken the lead in the opening 10 minutes when Kean flapped at a corner, but Campbell headed softly into the ground from only a few yards out. Rovers' failure to properly deal with Cardiff's set-pieces became a running trend, and Kean did well to punch the ball away when it looked as though he might be caught out directly from a corner. The away side were firmly on the back foot and were relying on last-ditch defending and good goalkeeping to keep themselves level, but Cardiff had a good shout for a penalty turned down when the ball appeared to strike Hanley's arms as the defender slid in to make a block. It was a huge slice of luck for Rovers and they nearly took full advantage when Pedersen's beautiful pass found Best in the penalty area, but the forward was ruled offside after his first-time finish had gone in off the right-hand post. That venture forward turned out to be only a momentary reprieve and Campbell nearly scored after Gunnarsson's long throw resulted in a scramble in the penalty area, but the former England striker's effort hit the crossbar and bounced to safety. Kean then failed to hold onto a shot and was fortunate to see Connolly blaze over from the edge of the area, before Cardiff went even closer when another long throw fell to Bellamy in the area, but the Cardiff captain saw his first effort saved by Kean and his second effort cleared off the line by Jones. It looked as though Rovers might somehow get to half-time with a clean sheet, but from the resulting corner Kean once again flapped at the ball and failed to get anything on it and Campbell, who had peeled away to be totally unmarked at the back post, was left with the simple task of heading home from only a couple of yards out. It was no more than Cardiff deserved and Rovers will need to drastically improve if they are to stand any chance of getting back into the match. Current results are going against Rovers and they will sit dangerously close to the relegation zone if they do not manage to get themselves back into this match. View full article

Gary Bowyer has named five changes to the side that drew on Good Friday, with Danny Murphy, Leon Best, Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Bentley and Colin Kazim-Richards all returning to the starting eleven. David Dunn and Jordan Rhodes move to the bench, while Williamson, King and Nuno Gomes all miss out through injury and illness. Supporters will be unsurprised by the fact that changes have been made to a side only 72 hours after their last fixture, but the decision to drop Dunn and Rhodes and then reinstate Danny Murphy is unlikely to be a popular one. Former Rovers striker Craig Bellamy, who had been missing through injury, returns to captain the Cardiff team. Cardiff City Marshall, Taylor, Turner, Conway, Connolly, Bo-Kyung Kim, Gunnarsson, Mutch, Barnett, Campbell, Bellamy Substitutes: Lewis, Whittingham, Cowie, Gestede, Noone, Mason, Lappin Blackburn Rovers Kean, Kane, Dann, Hanley, Morris, Jones, Bentley, Murphy, Lowe, Pedersen, Kazim-Richards, Best Substitutes: Sandomierski, Dunn, Rhodes, Givet, Rekik, Goodwillie, Stewart View full article

There have yet to be any goals at Ewood Park in the Good Friday match against Blackpool. Both sides have had chances to score, but quality has been at a premium and neither side has managed to seriously test the opposition keeper. Blackpool settled in quickly and were immediately on the front foot and controlling possession inside the Rovers half. For all of their pressure the away side failed to create any real chances and the first goal-scoring opportunity fell to Grant Hanley. The Rovers central defender had grabbed his first international goal a week before, but failed to get his right-footed effort on target when the ball found its way to him after a scramble in the penalty area. Shortly after, Dunn fired narrowly over with an effort from just outside of the area and Derbyshire then missed a decent opportunity to give Blackpool the lead when he headed over from a corner. The only major talking point of the first half came when Jason Lowe was fouled by Mackenzie. It was a two-footed challenge and could have easily warranted a red, but the central defender was only shown a yellow card. As the half drew to a close, the two sides continued to cancel each other out, but Phillips nearly gave Blackpool the lead when his effort from 30 yards flew only a whisker past the post. Rovers will know that three points would be invaluable in their fight against relegation and Gary Bowyer will no doubt be keen to maintain his unbeaten record as interim manager. View full article

Gary Bowyer has made three changes to the side as he once again assumes the role of caretaker manager. Morris, King and Williamson all get starts, whilst Best and Stewart drop to the bench and Martin Olsson misses out through injury. The Blackpool side continues several Rovers old-boys, with both Barry Ferguson and Matt Derbyshire in the starting eleven, while they are managed by former Rovers manager Paul Ince. Blackburn Rovers Kean, Kane, Dann, Hanley, Morris, Lowe, Williamson, Dunn, King, Jones, Rhodes Substitutes: Sandomierski, Givet, Best, Pedersen, Stewart, Kazim-Richards, Gomes Blackpool Gilks, Crainey, Phillips, Ince, Sylvestre, Baptiste, Ferguson, Basham, Derbyshire, Mackenzie, Broadfoot Substitutes: Halstead, Eardley, Grandin, Cathcart, Angel, Delfouneso, Futacs View full article