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Latics came to Ewood Park looking to get back to winning ways and would probably have done so but for some outstanding goalkeeping from once England keeper Paul Robinson. It leaves Latics still looking for that illusive first Premier League win and kept us in 11th place.
Latics started the game with intent, Antonio Valencia rounded the Blackburn defence only to see his shot crash down off the crossbar and away to safety. Rovers looked nervous and once again were playing with Christopher Samba up front.
Charles N’zogbia had a sweet left footed shot go the wrong side of the post, just after El Haj Diouf had had Rovers first chance of the half. His header was cleared off the line and saw a bit of an upturn for the hosts.
The last fifteen minutes of the half saw us still in attacking mood but Ben Watson could only manage to shoot over the bar after being fed through by Rodallega. Scharner had a header cleared from one of many corners earned, but then came the sucker punch.
With just seconds of the half remaining Blackburn got themselves a corner and totally against the run of play managed to find the net. Benni McCarthy was left left unmarked and he casually headed past Kirkland who was in no mans land.
The second half saw Samba, usually a central defender (he was sent off in the corresponding fixture last season), start to cause us problems as the ball was constantly hoofed up to him. It was their game plan and after the jittery first half, began to get them chances.
Watson yet again had a guilt edged chance as this time he was fed Valencia, but this was the start of the Paul Robinson show as he parried the ball wide to safety. Next was the killer goal as yet another set piece wasn’t dealt with.
The goal scorer McCarthy turned provider as his free kick was met by Nelsen who flicked the ball over the oncoming Kirkland. Another bad goal to give away and it seemed to sap the life out of Latics, especially as everything we did manage to get through was amazingly dealt with by Robinson.
N’Zogbia saw a fine header tipped over the bar from close range, Boyce had a shot cleared off the line, Valencia had a long range shot strike tipped out for a corner. Robinson was at full stretch when he saved from Rodallega and in injury time Daniel de Ridder and Titus Bramble had their efforts well cleared off the line.
On another day this could have been 4 or 5 goals to 2, but it just wasn’t going to go in for today.
Match report by Jason Taylor
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Benni McCarthy
Mido
Amr Zaki
