He wasn't backed with sufficient funds, and that is why he left. He'd taken us as far as he could under the current board.

Taken from an interview in today's Daily Mail. It's quite obvious why Hughes left: he'd taken us as far as he could and wanted a new challenge. Sir Alex is merely stating that he views Rovers as a stepping stone and so does Hughes. Bit concerned about his comment on contracts though...

Sir Alex Ferguson's opinion on Mark Hughes:- "He has left Blackburn at the right time because all the contracts are up next year. He's done his time there and it was time for him to move on. He's proved himself there".

I still have no idea how we won this match. I was nervous beforehand because Everton were a team on the up at the time following Joe Royle's appointment as manager. We needed to win the match, a draw wasn't good enough. Any pre-match nerves were quickly dispelled by Chris Sutton's left-footed finish after thirteen seconds. Then Alan Shearer drilled home a free-kick to put us 2-0 up after seven minutes. Stuart pulled a goal back for Everton with a superb chip. Then Everton proceeded to throw everything at us. They battered us in the 2nd half. Anybody remember that goal-mouth scramble? Hendry trying to head the ball on the floor? Shearer belting the ball into the stands in injury-time? The final-whistle brought a surge of joy and relief to the Rovers support. So many memories - Tim Flowers doing his trade-mark salute to the Rovers supporters following a victory, walking through Stanley Park believing that it was going to be our season. Six weeks later, it was at the other end of Stanley Park where we finally achieved the dream. Jack's dream. Our dream. We almost made a complete hash of it, but all's well that ends well.