Rovers have been drawn in Group E of the UEFA Cup and will play.

Group E

Feyenoord away 23 November

FC Basel at home 2nd November

Wisla Krakow away 19th October

Nancy at home 13th December

This team is giving me the Feel Good Factor, they are playing for each other and dare I say it, for the fans.

Lucas Neil may want to leave, but he aint half putting in some superb performances. Those who suggested that he shouldnt be captain, should think again.

Despite conceding an early goal, Rovers bounced back against Wigan this afternoon to claim all 3 points.

Heskey's early goal was cancelled out by David Bentley goal just before half time.

Despite dominating the second half, Rovers conceded a penalty, however substitute keeper Jason Brown, making his premiership debut, made a triple save to keep Rovers level before Roberts and McCarthy linked to allow McCarthy to get Rovers winning goal.

Tonights 2-0 win against Saltzburg, has placed Rovers in the group stage of the UEFA Cup and guaranteed them a few more European nights at Ewood this season.

From the half hour mark when Benni McCarthy beat goalkeeper Timo Ochs at the near post after some tricky turns to beat the defender there was no doubt that this was to be a historic night at Ewood.

However the icing was put on the cake when David Bentley brought down Nonda's header on his chest before lobbing the keeper with a long range volley into the far corner of the net.

You can use all the adjectives and football cliches you like, what was certain tonight, was that the supporters that turned up at Ewood Park were given 90 minutes of commitment and entertainment by a team in the mould of their manager.

Whether Mark Hughes has found a winning combination has yet to be proved, but he has gelled together a team prepared to work for each other; which is being appreciated by vocal support from the fans.

Whilst there was some apprehension during the first half, when Bentley's sublime volley hit the back of the Blackburn End net, it blew the roof off Ewood.

Mark Hughes quite rightly summed up after the game. "This place Rocked tonight".

If this is what they call the Magic of European Nights, then give me more.

This was football at it's best, electric, vibrant and full of attacking flair. Tugay not only created space he towed it around as he sprayed cross field passes all night, to the wing backs striking forward at every opportunity. Lucas Neil ending up in the centre forward position on more than one occasion during the night. And as for Emerton, he's causing more problems to defenders now than he did for 4 years as a winger. On his displays so far this season, he is the outstanding candidate for player of the season. A master stroke by Hughes that has converted Emerton from fans scapegoat to cult hero.

The acquisition of McCarthy is paying dividends to a point that Bellamy is quickly becoming a distant memory and Nonda is quickly becoming a cult hero, who I suspect will surpass the previous cult hero Kuqi, in the goal scoring department.

In his post match interview Mark Hughes stated:

"We dominated the game and we are in the group stages now.

"In the second half my only fear was that we were playing so well and were so comfortable that we might over indulge and get caught out.

"But in fairness to the guys, they were excellent and put in a really professional performance."

Rovers: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill, Bentley, Savage (Mokoena 61), Tugay (Gallagher 83), Pedersen, Nonda, McCarthy (Jeffers 83).

Subs Not Used: Brown, McEveley, Peter, Gray.

Booked: Bentley, McCarthy, Emerton.

Goals: McCarthy 32, Bentley 56.

SV Red Bull Salzburg: Ochs, Bodnar, Vargas, Linke, Dudic, Tiffert (Jezek 59), Kovac (Aufhauser 69), Carboni, Vonlanthen, Janko, Zickler (Janocko 65).

Subs Not Used: Ozcan, Lokvenc, Meyer, Winklhofer.

Booked: Zickler, Kovac, Carboni. Agg (4-2)

Att: 18,888

Ref: Joao Francisco Lopes Ferreira (Portugal).

With 3 wins in a row after Thursday nights win against Saltzburg Rovers will be aiming for their forth consecutive win when we take on Wigan tomorrow afternoon at Ewood. Kick off 3pm.

It is anticipated that Rovers will line up in the same formation as Thursday, although there is a minor doubt about Savage, who is either suffering from a minor hamstring problem or his Mrs hasn’t washed his lucky Boro underpants yet.

Summer signing, Jason Roberts, from Wigan, returned to training this week after injury and may get a place on the bench.

Click here for Match Preview and Predictions

It could be the same prices as set for the Carling Cup against Chelsea.

Ticket Prices Carling Cup

Well done to Rovers

Brilliant bob,

more of bob's reviews can be read in MESSAGEBOARD GOLD

August September

OK, here we go. Here’s the first bout of nonsense for the new season. Six league, and two UEFA Cup games to look back on. So sit back, open another can of Carlsberg Special Brew and between us let’s try and piece together what happened….

CLICK HERE for bob's full report on August / September.

Rovers collected maximum points against Boro this afternoon at the Riverside, thanks to a 27min goal from transfer deadline loan signing, Nonda.

Full time Boro 0 Rovers 1.

In his post match interview Rovers manager Mark Hughes stated.

"I was delighted to see Shabani Nonda get his first goal. His movement and work ethic was a joy to behold.

"He's not as fit as he might be at the moment and the intensity of the football in the Premiership is different to what he is used to, but the way he applied himself caused Middlesbrough problems all day.

"I thought Andre Ooijer was really commanding and was excellent throughout. He gave us a real platform."

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies (Johnson 83), Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Parnaby, Morrison (Viduka 45), Euell, Rochemback, Mendieta (Cattermole 45), Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Bates.

Booked: Euell.

Rovers: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill, Bentley, Savage, Tugay (Mokoena 76), Pedersen (Gray 90), McCarthy (Gallagher 85), Nonda.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Peter.

Booked: Tugay, McCarthy, Bentley.

Goals: Nonda 27.

Att: 24,959

Ref: G Poll

BBC Match Report

Last nights 2-0 win against Saltzburg, has placed Rovers in the group stage of the UEFA Cup and guaranteed a few more European nights at Ewood this season.

From the half hour mark when Benni McCarthy beat goalkeeper Timo Ochs at the near post after some tricky turns to beat the defender there was no doubt that this was to be a historic night at Ewood. However the icing was put on the cake when David Bentley brought down Nonda’s header on his chest before lobbing a the keeper with a long range volley into the far corner of the net.

After the game Mark Hughes stated.

"We have made it a priority this year to get into the group stage and progress even further, and you could see that in our play. We controlled the game from start to finish,"

You can use all the adjectives and football clichés you like, what was certain last night, was that the people that turned up at Ewood Park were given 90 minutes of commitment and entertainment by a team in the mould of their manager.

Whether Mark Hughes has found a winning combination has yet to be proved, but he has gelled together a team prepared to work for each other; which is being appreciated by vocal support from the fans.

Mark Hughes quite rightly summed up last nights atmosphere after the game when he stated. “This place Rocked tonight”.

If this is what they call the Magic of European Nights, then give me more.

Match Preview by ossiejones.

Rovers go into tonights game against Saltzburg all square after their 2-2 draw in Austria, however Rovers have never won a game in the EUFA cup.

We certainly have come close; including the memorable 3-3 in Sofia, after Thompson, Ostenstad and Duff putting Rovers 3 up a couple of years ago. And at Celtic park, in the very net round we totally battered the hoops for 85 minutes, playing the best football of the Souness regime, only to suffer a late Larsson winner.

These were only the latest instalments of a fairly pathetic run of games in this competition, which started in our title season with a game against Swedish minnows Trelleborgs. A 0-1 home defeat in the first leg, despite once again dominating the game, Rovers were apparently home and hosed in the second leg at 2-1 up until they scored another late equalizer to go through 3-2 on aggregate.

Then more heroics in Lyon followed, but again they were ultimately in vain as 2-2 was just enough for the French to progress.

Although a 0-0 or 1-1 draw would see them through to the group stage, could this be the night that European history is made at Ewood when they win their first UEFA Cup game.

With FREE ENTRY to season ticket holders and competitively priced tickets for the walk on fans. £15 Adults and £5 for Juniors there should be a reasonable sized crowd at Ewood to cheer the team on and hopefully see history made at Ewood.

Kick off 7-45pm.

Match Preview by ossiejones Click Here

Sky usually like to show matches with potential giantkillings. They have enough bog-standard Prem Vs Prem as it is.

I'd guess at them picking the MK Dons v Tottenham and Chesterfield v West Ham games.

Ah, how about Martin ONeils old team (Leicester v Villa) there again Crewe v United. They love United dont they.

Rovers collected maximum points against Boro this afternoon at the Riverside, thanks to a 27min goal from transfer deadline loan signing, Nonda.

Full time Boro 0 Rovers 1.

In his post match interview Rovers manager Mark Hughes stated.

"I was delighted to see Shabani Nonda get his first goal. His movement and work ethic was a joy to behold.

"He's not as fit as he might be at the moment and the intensity of the football in the Premiership is different to what he is used to, but the way he applied himself caused Middlesbrough problems all day.

"I thought Andre Ooijer was really commanding and was excellent throughout. He gave us a real platform."

Rovers have been drawn at home in the 3rd round of the Carling Cup, against Chelsea.

Full draw.

Wycombe v Doncaster

Sheffield United v Birmingham

Leicester v Aston Villa

Watford v Hull

Leeds v Southend

Chesterfield v West Ham

Notts County v Southampton

Newcastle v Portsmouth

Charlton v Bolton

Liverpool v Reading

West Brom v Arsenal

Port Vale v Norwich

Everton v Luton

MK Dons v Tottenham

Crewe v Manchester United

Blackburn v Chelsea

Ties to be played the week commencing 23 October

Match Report by Paul.

After sleeping on the result and performance I still feel the same - good win, much needed three points but a worringly awful performance. The first half was dire, from both sides, and if the PL is the best league in the world this game should be reported to trading standards. Rovers couldn't do anything right and City are just plain bad, I don't believe we are a poor team but so far we have haven't shown we are a good one.

Truth be told a better team than City could have been 5-0 up before we got a sniff at goal. I think I counted nine City chances in the first half, it was only thanks to Thatcher and Pedersen that we went in level at half-time. Defensively we were very poor and the rest of the side was struggling to put two passes together. I don't think anyone was especially bad, just the team wasn't working as a unit. Note we didn't create anything!

That Sparky made two changes at half-time, said it all. The guy next to me said to his five year-old visiting Rovers for the first time "Our manager is very, very angry with some of the players" Well I hope he was. Those changes made a big difference, I've always been more confident than most in Mokoena and thought he played well today. Nonda looks like a very good signing, give him the ball and he goes for goal, he doesn't try to bring in the rest of the team, he wants to score. His quick thinking at the thrown-in made the third goal simplicity itself for MGP and Benni.

The interesting rumour I heard at Ewood, emanating from Brockhall and involving a media source rather than a paid employee, concerned Todd and Gray. Allegedely, it will have to be dire circumstances before either plays for the 1st team again. Todd was supposed to have had a major row with MH about Oojer going straight into the team, despite not having trained with them. Gray's problem was not confronting Rooney, but rather being paralytic.

If this is true, and we appear to have major defensive problems, it's difficult to know how to respond. I would support Hughes, I can't moan about footballers who don't give a monkeys and then do anything other than support the manager when he disciplines them. A pity because I like Gray and we need Todd, who is behaving very childishly.

For me the defensive problems revolve around communication, neither Ouijer nor Zurab seem to be talkative players. Ouijer was all over the place yesterday, didn't seem to know where he should be in relation to the rest of the team. I imagine either Nelsen or Todd alongside him would have sorted this. This raises a question about Neill's captaincy, on pitch he should sorting it out, if he can't see the problem of two centre backs not communicating he should not be captain. I happily ranted at Ouijer yesterday when he scored, in fact I'd have driven him home to Holland but we must give him a chance if Todd and Gray are finished. What about McEveley, Neill, Zurab/Ouijer, Emerton?

After Hughes made the half-time changes our midfield looked strange. Who would create the chances? The Axe and Savage wouldn't, generally MGP doesn't create much, leaving us with Bentley. Better sies would have quickly spotted this and closed us down. I'm wondering if McCarthy could play deeper, even in midfield?

After a 4-2 home win I should feel much encouraged. I'm relieved we have three points and sit 12th this morning but still worried. There were glimpses of Blackburn Rovers yesterday but only glimpses. Don't underestimate how awful City were. This was a very poor game of football between one very bad team and another that is struggling to get going this season. Sparky knows this wasn't the great result it appears to be, I hope he can tighten things up befre we go to Boro.

Rovers: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill, Bentley, Savage, Tugay (Mokoena 45), Pedersen, McCarthy (Gallagher 85), Jeffers (Nonda 45).

Subs Not Used: Brown, Peter.

Booked: Savage, McCarthy.

Goals: Sinclair 18 og, Pedersen 44, McCarthy 66, Gallagher 89.

Man City: Weaver, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Trabelsi (Beasley 35), Barton, Hamann (Ireland 78), Sinclair, Corradi, Dickov (Samaras 62).

Subs Not Used: Hart, Reyna.

Booked: Hamann, Richards, Corradi.

Goals: Barton 39, Ooijer 45 og.

Att: 18,403.

Ref: M Atkinson

Preview by James No.7

Finally, with a win against Manchester City and a good second half performance to kick-start our season, we can now put the fears of a struggle against relegation behind us and look forward to push on up the table, much like we did last season.

Next stop is away to Middlesbrough, a match that should be winnable for a reinvigorated Blackburn Rovers. My prediction concludes this preview.

Where & When

Date: Saturday 23 September

Time: A traditional 3:00PM kick-off

Place: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough (capacity 35,100)

Match Preview Click Here

thanks clare.

How long does gmail take to load up, and is it flooded with adverts.

Im using a web based email, and it takes ages to load and it is flooded with all the usual advertizing banners.

Rovers appeared to be suffering from a hangover, this afternoon, after their exploits in Europe on Thursday night and were lucky to go in on equal terms at half time.

If City had converted their first half chances there would have been no coming back for Rovers.

Rovers took the lead twice in the first half, firstly in the 18th minute City’s Sinclair headed Pedersen’s free-kick into his own net and secondly in the 44th minute with a Pedersen’s free kick. However on each occasion City equalized, firstly when Barton ran through the Rovers defence in the 39th minute to give Friedel no chance and secondly in the dieing minutes of the second half when Corradi, who appeared off side, shot was deflected by Ooijer in to the Rovers net.

Half time 2-2

At the start of the second half Rovers made to changes, with Mokoena for Tugay and Nonda for Jeffers.

It was either the changes or harsh words by Hughes at half time, possibly both, but it changed the game with Rovers taking full command of the game they were rewarded in the 66th minute when Richard Dunne lost concentration during a throw-in allowing Nonda to find Pedersen, who got to the byline and cross allowing McCarthy to slide the ball past Weaver in the City goal.

In the final minute of normal time, substitute Paul Gallgher had the Blackburn End in raptures when he fired home an Emerten low cross, after excellent work by the Australian full back.

Full time Rovers 4 City 2

Today's News of the World.EDITION: Sunday, 17th Sep 2006

Todd is now on loan at Burnley

I've been away for a week and was wondering if somebody might be able to give me a quick summary of the match against Sheffield United. It would be very much appreciated as the thread has grown rather long

Try MATCH REPORTS

Morecambe. Steven Drench & Ryan Robinson

Match Preview by rovers6

Research commissioned by the BRFCS Institute for the Further Understanding of Simple and Sub-simple Life-forms in Galaxies of Little or Sub-little Importance.

Abstract: Adopting Earthling form through the process of type-B molecular absuction, I, Rover6, travelled to Planet 8#8345566^42a [‘Earth’] to research and report back on the imminent recreational confrontation intended by two Earthling tribal groups, Blackburn Rovers and Man City.

Verdict: The operation was successful and the report submitted before the deadline set by High Operator of BRFCS, Den. Thus, banishment from Planet BRFCS and subsequent Eternal Universal Flotsam Treatment was avoided. Minor subterranean grey matter displacement was suffered as a result of the molecular absuction process but otherwise the operation was unerring.

Methodology: Earthling form was taken, specifically, quadri-limbed thorax, one head covered by lank, dark follicle growth. The description Grabbi Isgay was adopted as a sufficiently unobtrusive Earthling name.

continued.CLICK HERE

please note game kicks off at 3pm Sunday

Match Report by Scotty.

Got back a couple of hours ago - what a fantastic trip.

Overall the result was a fair one. Salzburg started the game better than us, we were too defensive and negative early on and I think Salzburg sensed this. They started to get forward more often and it wasn't a surprise when they scored. It was finished excellently but the chance came from yet another long ball through the heart of our defence.

Our equaliser came a bit out of the blue to be honest - but what a free-kick. From that moment until half-time though we tore Salzburg apart, winning everything in midfield. Both Tugay and Savage were immense during that period and we fully deserved to be leading at half-time.

We looked comfortable throughout most of the second half until about 10-15 minutes from the end. Salzburg kept putting more forwards on and we just started to defend deeper and deeper. Out wide we allowed far too many crosses to get into the box and Salzburg started to create chances - good chances as well. We rode our luck until the last minute which made their equaliser such a sickener, but it had been coming.

Anyway, a few points:

- McCarthy can't play as a lone striker imo. He isn't strong enough, he doesn't win anything in the air, and he doesn't work hard enough. I lost count of the amount of times one of our full-backs had the ball and was looking for channel run only to see a static McCarthy in the middle. That's not to say that McCarthy's a bad player, I just think he needs someone to play off.

- Neill and Pedersen on the left didn't do enough to stop crosses coming into the box. Salzburg's forwards were all big lumps, so the easiest way to defend against them is to stop their supply. We just didn't do it. The whole defence turned to Pedersen when Salzburg got their late equaliser - Ooijer in particular gave him a right roasting - as it was the umpteenth time he'd let his opponent run off him.

- We wasted possession far too much in the last quarter of the game. As Salzburg pushed forward we had numerous chances to break, but we either lost the ball in midfield (both Bentley and Pedersen tried to take men on too often rather than playing simple balls) or wasted crossing chances. We could, and should, have killed the game off on the break long before they equalised, but we didn't have the necessary intelligence or composure to do it.

- Tugay was man of the match, closely followed by Savage, closely followed by Friedel. They all did their respective jobs superbly. Salzburg bizarrely gave Tugay time and space to play, and boy did he play. I suspect they might get a bit closer to him at Ewood.

- Our central defence partnership is still a soft touch at times. Zurab is great on the ground, he showed superb composure and skill on a number of occasions to dribble his way out of trouble, but he lacks positional sense and can be bullied. Ooijer is a similar sort of player, and although I think he's better in the air than Zurab, he still doesn't always show the necessary strength and competitiveness required.

- Salzburg were strong, physical, competitive, and their forwards in particular were big units. However, their keeper had a mare and they lack real pace - can't see them doing what Genclerbiligi (sp?) did to us at Ewood when their pacey forward tore us apart on the break. And I didn't see too many of them show any great dribbling ability either. They are a decent, strong, workmanlike team, but they aren't top class.

Neither are we though and we'll definately have to defend crosses better if we want to progress. But I think we've got the edge in midfield and I expect us to do enough - although I'm sure Rovers will put us all through the mill first as ever.

Match Report as published by the BBC on line.

LINK - www.bbc.co.uk

Correction.

Rovers team. Official as supplied by Lee Grooby.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill ©, Bentley, Tugay, Savage, Gamst, Gallagher (sub Peter 80 mins), McCarthy (sub Nonda 87 mins). Subs not used: Brown, Todd, Mokoena, Jeffers, Gray.

Nolan didn't travel. Of the 20 who did, Reid and McEveley missed out.

Match Report as published by the Official Rovers Web Site (Registration Required)

www.rovers.co.uk