[352gialloblu]

Finished 3-2 for the home side due to a terrible PK call in stoppage time.

Rovers line-up (4-4-2):
Friedel; Emerton, Short, Johansson, Gray (Gresko 88ish); Flitcroft (Neill 45), Ferguson, Tugay, Matteo; Stead, Yorke (Dickov 45).

I know the line-up looks all wrong, but yes, Emerton started at right full-back and Matteo played left-wing. Neill came in and Emerton pushed up, and it looked a lot better. Friedel was nursing an injury (see yanks abroad for his play).

Phillips scored first after some poor defending. Short and NEJ went for (and missed) the same header, and Emerton didn't mark Phillips as the ball fell to him 5 yards out. The first half was pretty even except for that mess.

The equalizer was a great pass from Dickov to Ferguson, who put it in off the inside of the post.

Dickov scored for 2-1 after Emerton caught a ball just at the end-line and looped a first-time cross in. Dickov was waiting at the 6 between the defenders and half-volleyed it into the roof of the net.

After that, though, Rovers sat back a bit (after a good start to both halves), and Saints got the equalizer after the ball stayed around the box too long. Fernandes laid it off to Svensson, who hit an outside of the foot shot into the inside of the left side-netting.

Then things got a bit tense, and three Rovers players were booked. And then the ref screwed up big in stoppage time by awarding a penalty against Short for a "push" on Beattie. Beattie scored easily, stealing all the points with the help of Andy D'Urso. Really, it was an awful call to make in stoppage time of an otherwise even and well-fought game.

Looks like it's not much better than last year.

[LaBella]

That Penalty was weak. Should have ended in a draw. Quite unfortunate for the rovers

[352gialloblu]

Originally Posted by LaBella

That Penalty was weak. Should have ended in a draw. Quite unfortunate for Rovers

Indeed. Fixed your post.

[352gialloblu]

Yep, Andy D'Urso IS and idiot...

Now, does this mean Ferguson is suspended, or not. Apart from a nice goal, I didn't see too much from him. Tugay continues to be the midfield.

[therealronaldo7]

I was neutral in watching this game and that penalty was utter crap. I am not sure what the ref was looking at but he must have owed Southampton or something because there is no way that was a penalty. I feel for the Blackburn fans.