Blackburn Rovers keeper is Kean for his Ewood debut

WHEN Jake Kean made his Blackburn Rovers league debut at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League last May, the pressure was off.

Rovers had already been relegated and few were that bothered whether Rovers signed off in the top flight in style or not.

It was the perfect opportunity for a rookie keeper to be handed his chance.

The Rovers academy product let no-one down either in the 2-1 defeat as he produced a string of saves to suggest he has a bright future ahead in the game.

Fast forward seven months though and Kean’s next league chance came in very different circumstances.

The 21-year-old was a shock name in Saturday’s starting line-up for the Lancashire derby at Blackpool as former England number one Paul Robinson was axed.

It was a bold move from under pressure boss Henning Berg – throwing the youngster into a crucial game – with many eyebrows raised about Robinson’s exclusion. Ninety minutes later and Kean was one of the few bright points of another disappointing 2-0 defeat.

Blackpool’s win could certainly not be put at Kean’s door as he produced several second half saves to stop the damage from being any worse.

Kean said: “I did not have long to prepare. I found out not long before the game and the manager just said ‘go and do what you can do and enjoy the game’.

“It was not a complete shock because there had been inklings during the week but nothing had been said so I wasn’t getting my hopes up.

“I had the nerves when I played at Chelsea and made my debut.

“For me I want it to become the norm so I didn’t have any nerves against Blackpool.

“It is very important as a goalkeeper to do what you have to do as well as you can. You are the last line of defence, if you do make a mistake the ball is going in so whatever you do, you have to be calm and collected and you have to make sure you are doing your job right.”

Kean moved to Rovers’ academy towards the end of the 2008/09 season after being released by Derby County.

In 2010/11 he spent time on loan at League One Hartlepool and followed that up with a temporary spell at Rochdale the next season.

Contracted to the club until the summer of 2014, Kean is now determined to make the most of his long-awaited opportunity.

“It was brilliant to start,” he told Roversplayer. “Obviously losing 2-0 wasn’t what anyone connected to Blackburn Rovers wanted but it was a chance for me to play and show the new manager what I could do.

“It is massive for me. I got my league debut at 19 and had to wait a little bit to play at Blackburn.

“Now I am playing I want to keep playing and keep going week in and week out.”

A start between the posts against Brighton tomorrow would be Kean’s first senior appearance at Ewood Park and he knows the importance of a win.

Rovers have won just once in Henning Berg’s nine games in charge, leaving them in 15th in the Championship.

He said: “It would be brilliant to start a game at Ewood Park. What is the point of playing for Blackburn if you don’t want to play in front of your own fans at your own stadium?

“If I can be involved and play and help us get three points and move us up the table then that would be brilliant as well.

“It was a smack in the mouth when we came in 1-0 down at half time at Blackpool after all the good chances and good play we had.

“It is something to build on and take into next week where we want three points.

“I think a good 90 minutes is the key for anyone to get the three points. We are nearly there, we just need to keep working at it.”

If Kean continues in the team over the coming weeks, a lot of the talk will be about Robinson’s future.

But the promising keeper will know that now is his perfect opportunity.

Comments(25)

merlinrabbit says...
12:54pm Fri 21 Dec 12

"If Kean continues in the team over the coming weeks, a lot of the talk will be about Robinson’s future". Is it not already the talk? There was a whole article on this site yesterday about the club listening to offers. I wish I could just once read something about my club that I can take at face value instead of trying to work out the hidden agenda or motives. The only thing that's fact at the moment is the scores. Im not sure the players on the pitch are who they say there are.

Rayzerisaloser says...
1:09pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Berg out

maltese blue n white says...
2:03pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Rayzerisaloser wrote:
Berg out
Get a life...... Berg needs to be given a chance... his own players and staff.... then and only then can fans make a fair and honest appraisal of the man.

Harwoodstblue says...
2:25pm Fri 21 Dec 12

maltese blue n white wrote:
Rayzerisaloser wrote:
Berg out
Get a life...... Berg needs to be given a chance... his own players and staff.... then and only then can fans make a fair and honest appraisal of the man.
He's a Dingle, what do you expect.

MxMave says...
3:04pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Kean out, Berg out.

MxMave says...
3:05pm Fri 21 Dec 12

maltese blue n white wrote:
Rayzerisaloser wrote:
Berg out
Get a life...... Berg needs to be given a chance... his own players and staff.... then and only then can fans make a fair and honest appraisal of the man.
Get a brain, look at his record on Wiki.
WE NEED A MANAGER
WE NEED A MANAGER
WE NEED A MANAGER
WE NEED A MANAGER

noddy57 says...
3:35pm Fri 21 Dec 12

most of the rovers fans are totally missing the point, first of all l wont be held to ransome by any football club ,including blackburn, l stopped paying for players to be kept in the lap of luxery when sky sports started to destroy the saturday afternoon game, l cannot believe all you supporters just keep tolerating the endless greed of the modern players,,its time to wake up to the big bad wolf at the top and say wev,e had enough,,we want our game back as it was before all the greed and buisness ripped out the sporting guts and replaced it with a corrupt buisness monopoly,,and the present set up at ewood park is just the beginning,,venkys get back to what you do best,,farm chickens,

riversidefan says...
3:49pm Fri 21 Dec 12

MxMave wrote:
maltese blue n white wrote:
Rayzerisaloser wrote:
Berg out
Get a life...... Berg needs to be given a chance... his own players and staff.... then and only then can fans make a fair and honest appraisal of the man.
Get a brain, look at his record on Wiki.
WE NEED A MANAGER
WE NEED A MANAGER
WE NEED A MANAGER
WE NEED A MANAGER
GROW UP
GROW UP
GROW UP
GROW UP

Dan11 says...
4:00pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Good Luck to Jake on Saturday and hope the lad has a great career ahead of him. It is the best for all concerned if Robinson moves on he has been taking the **** out of the club for 18 months now, with performances which show his heart is not in it anymore.

the usher says...
4:16pm Fri 21 Dec 12

noddy57 wrote:
most of the rovers fans are totally missing the point, first of all l wont be held to ransome by any football club ,including blackburn, l stopped paying for players to be kept in the lap of luxery when sky sports started to destroy the saturday afternoon game, l cannot believe all you supporters just keep tolerating the endless greed of the modern players,,its time to wake up to the big bad wolf at the top and say wev,e had enough,,we want our game back as it was before all the greed and buisness ripped out the sporting guts and replaced it with a corrupt buisness monopoly,,and the present set up at ewood park is just the beginning,,venkys get back to what you do best,,farm chickens,
What a great letter. I am in the same position. I started going to all the Rovers home games in the late 1940's. Later having a season ticket when I watched all the Rovers home matches and several away, and watched a team playing FOOTBALL, not this tap-tapping stuff they do today. Once players started getting obscene amounts of money for kicking a ball around I decided it was time to stop throwing my money away. Now we have so many foreign players in the game who are only here for the money and no loyalty to the club or the fans. Don't even watch football on the television. Oh for the days of proper football.

Return of the Magnificent se7en says...
4:50pm Fri 21 Dec 12

the usher wrote:
noddy57 wrote:
most of the rovers fans are totally missing the point, first of all l wont be held to ransome by any football club ,including blackburn, l stopped paying for players to be kept in the lap of luxery when sky sports started to destroy the saturday afternoon game, l cannot believe all you supporters just keep tolerating the endless greed of the modern players,,its time to wake up to the big bad wolf at the top and say wev,e had enough,,we want our game back as it was before all the greed and buisness ripped out the sporting guts and replaced it with a corrupt buisness monopoly,,and the present set up at ewood park is just the beginning,,venkys get back to what you do best,,farm chickens,
What a great letter. I am in the same position. I started going to all the Rovers home games in the late 1940's. Later having a season ticket when I watched all the Rovers home matches and several away, and watched a team playing FOOTBALL, not this tap-tapping stuff they do today. Once players started getting obscene amounts of money for kicking a ball around I decided it was time to stop throwing my money away. Now we have so many foreign players in the game who are only here for the money and no loyalty to the club or the fans. Don't even watch football on the television. Oh for the days of proper football.
A couple of premier league glory hunters trying to justify not going to ewood because we got relegated. Then come on here to say its because sky spoilt it all and players get payed too much. Just admit it. As there is no glory to be had, you will not return, so why bother even commenting???

juanbbien says...
6:11pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Return of the Magnificent se7en wrote:
the usher wrote:
noddy57 wrote:
most of the rovers fans are totally missing the point, first of all l wont be held to ransome by any football club ,including blackburn, l stopped paying for players to be kept in the lap of luxery when sky sports started to destroy the saturday afternoon game, l cannot believe all you supporters just keep tolerating the endless greed of the modern players,,its time to wake up to the big bad wolf at the top and say wev,e had enough,,we want our game back as it was before all the greed and buisness ripped out the sporting guts and replaced it with a corrupt buisness monopoly,,and the present set up at ewood park is just the beginning,,venkys get back to what you do best,,farm chickens,
What a great letter. I am in the same position. I started going to all the Rovers home games in the late 1940's. Later having a season ticket when I watched all the Rovers home matches and several away, and watched a team playing FOOTBALL, not this tap-tapping stuff they do today. Once players started getting obscene amounts of money for kicking a ball around I decided it was time to stop throwing my money away. Now we have so many foreign players in the game who are only here for the money and no loyalty to the club or the fans. Don't even watch football on the television. Oh for the days of proper football.
A couple of premier league glory hunters trying to justify not going to ewood because we got relegated. Then come on here to say its because sky spoilt it all and players get payed too much. Just admit it. As there is no glory to be had, you will not return, so why bother even commenting???
I think a lot of supporters from this era and when I started going in the late fifties didn't go there looking for glory because with due respect supporting the Rovers you didn't really expect it and when they did get a decent team together invariably the best players were sold on,Peter Dobing,Mike England,Fred Pickering,Keith Newton,Roy Vernon,etc but yes we went to the matches because we loved the Rovers simple as that and any sort of glory was welcome,when Mr Walker came along this was a dream come true,but alas those days are gone to be replaced by the present nightmare we are having to endure.

merlinrabbit says...
6:19pm Fri 21 Dec 12

the usher wrote:
noddy57 wrote:
most of the rovers fans are totally missing the point, first of all l wont be held to ransome by any football club ,including blackburn, l stopped paying for players to be kept in the lap of luxery when sky sports started to destroy the saturday afternoon game, l cannot believe all you supporters just keep tolerating the endless greed of the modern players,,its time to wake up to the big bad wolf at the top and say wev,e had enough,,we want our game back as it was before all the greed and buisness ripped out the sporting guts and replaced it with a corrupt buisness monopoly,,and the present set up at ewood park is just the beginning,,venkys get back to what you do best,,farm chickens,
What a great letter. I am in the same position. I started going to all the Rovers home games in the late 1940's. Later having a season ticket when I watched all the Rovers home matches and several away, and watched a team playing FOOTBALL, not this tap-tapping stuff they do today. Once players started getting obscene amounts of money for kicking a ball around I decided it was time to stop throwing my money away. Now we have so many foreign players in the game who are only here for the money and no loyalty to the club or the fans. Don't even watch football on the television. Oh for the days of proper football.
Yet you are both writing on here about it and one of you is a regular poster.

Road Runner Road Runner says...
7:00pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Good luck to the lad and I hope he gets a great reception ?

I'm sure he will should he start ?

Now, lets move on to the defense quickly moving into midfield !

Buy an enforcer asap.

Their you go, simple this game of football !!! :)

T'up the Rovers(what's left of it)

Arte et labore

bburnrover says...
7:03pm Fri 21 Dec 12

My theory was correct I knew all those Kean haters would not come back to the fold. some turned up for one match but the majority are not returning because they realise they were never supporters in the first place and Kean was just an excuse to stay away and walk around the shops with their wives.The fact is its too expensive to get in unless you are a tru fan and fofeit other luxuries,

Captain Dreckley says...
7:22pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Good luck Jake but the current situation reminds me of United when Bryan Robson was captain but out injured and Micky Phelan was known as the warmer,keeping Robsons shirt warm till he came back. I think Kean will be keeping the gloves warm till Brad returns in January and sorts Dann and Hanley out. Brad used to give it to Nelsen and Samba so he will have no fear of these two. There is no leadership in our defence and certainly none from Robinson. Roll on return of Friedel but what a role model and professional to develop Kean

Tom F. says...
7:44pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Steve Kean please come back!
Forget about the abuse.
The players loved u.
Sack Shaggy the SNAKE!

Stone Island: says...
8:35pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Dan11 wrote:
Good Luck to Jake on Saturday and hope the lad has a great career ahead of him. It is the best for all concerned if Robinson moves on he has been taking the **** out of the club for 18 months now, with performances which show his heart is not in it anymore.
His heart seemed in it at Turd Moor. If it weren't for him, our proud 33/34 year record would have come to an end. And if people think there is fan unrest now, it's nothing compared to what it would be like, if we'd have lost to them t****.

Not losing that game, is the ONLY positive of Bergs reign.

BRFC: Made in Blackburn, destroyed in India.

Stone Island: says...
8:38pm Fri 21 Dec 12

bburnrover wrote:
My theory was correct I knew all those Kean haters would not come back to the fold. some turned up for one match but the majority are not returning because they realise they were never supporters in the first place and Kean was just an excuse to stay away and walk around the shops with their wives.The fact is its too expensive to get in unless you are a tru fan and fofeit other luxuries,
Don't talk WET!

leitchy says...
8:56pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Back Berg and Venkys!!

Sack Shebby, Agnew & Shaw!!

Keep your foot down Henning.... (on Shebbys mouth)!!

FCBurnley says...
9:51pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Brilliant headline Andy. You must have spent hours working on that one !

French Rover says...
10:10pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Road Runner Road Runner wrote:
Good luck to the lad and I hope he gets a great reception ?

I'm sure he will should he start ?

Now, lets move on to the defense quickly moving into midfield !

Buy an enforcer asap.

Their you go, simple this game of football !!! :)

T'up the Rovers(what's left of it)

Arte et labore
Its still alive and kicking Woody....take more than the present lot to do this club in..three points tomorrow will do nicely! Back the Rovers and Berg...

kazluvsrovers says...
10:45pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Im glad Kean is getting a chance in goal, for me I think Robbo had gone off the boil, punching the ball all the time instead of catching it and I dont feel he commanded the box like he should even though the back four aren't up to much either, I still think he has been making quite a few mistakes, I hope Kean has a good game tomorrow, we shall see!!!
COYB

Abbot says...
10:59pm Fri 21 Dec 12

Rovers wage bill is in excess of 40 million quid. This is totally unsustainable for a club in the championship. Robbo will definitely go as he must be one of the top earners. He's been a good servant over the last few years but would he be willing to take a drop in pay - I think not.

JPainter90 says...
1:49am Sat 22 Dec 12

I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel once Kean had fled and our performances under Berg looked better. Couple of months down the line and we're back to where we have been for the last couple of years, struggling and doubting everything about our club.

We can't afford to do a Leeds, we could never recover from that unless another Uncle Jack comes along. Sort it out Venkys and stop taking the easy, cheap route in your decisions. Promotion is probably not a realistic ambition unless we spend big in January and get some stability and experience in the club's structure. Build the foundations for a strong push next season and maybe hope to scrape a play-off spot this season.

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