Penalty pain for Blackburn Rovers boss (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Penalty pain for Blackburn Rovers boss
9:59am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
BLACKBURN Rovers boss Michael Appleton was left to count the cost of a decision going against his men as they drew 1-1 with Brighton last night.
Rovers were leading thanks to Scott Dann’s goal when Jordan Rhodes saw a shot blocked by a Brighton defender.
But no decision was given – and two minutes later the Seagulls levelled from a spot kick of their own.
Appleton said: “It could and should have been better but their lad has pulled off one of the saves of the night from Jordan Rhodes in the second half.
“It was a blatant penalty.
“The game would have been completely different and to say theirs two minutes later was a bit harsh is one of the biggest understatements for a while.
“I thought we stood up well to all their pressure and the lads deserve a lot of credit for the effort they put in.
“They are pushing to get themselves into the play-offs and it was always going to be a difficult team to play against.
“We could have been better in possession but the game could have been so different had we been given the penalty we should have been.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (45)
10:07am Wed 13 Feb 13
RoverTheHill says...
If the shot hadn't been hand-balled, or if the penalty had been given, Rhodes could have had his 8th game in a row to score in! That's what I feel most cheated on!
Fingers crossed Brighton hit a bad run of form and plummet down the table.
10:10am Wed 13 Feb 13
Miss-You-Uncle-Jack says...
All in all though, a very good point considering we were up against it and withstood the pressure. Well done boys.
10:14am Wed 13 Feb 13
Mytimeto says...
Jake Kean saved three or four just by being there. And was rather weak on any crosses into the box, especially considering Brighton had Ulloa only up there which was any good in the air. So Dann and Hanley need someone to organise that back four.
Murphy I would say was rather lucky to be on the field. So still long way to go as a team.
We really need a leader on the pitch and some heart to chain the play from defence to attack. A point is more than deserved on this occasion.
10:35am Wed 13 Feb 13
stick to football says...
Well done Rovers and M A - go the Emirates and enjoy the occassion and play with a fredom of knowing no points at stake and nobody will give you a chance but who knows NOW - it could happen
The best thing is it will give the players a taste of what they are missing the Premiership and if M A gets us up he deserves freedom of the Borough
10:40am Wed 13 Feb 13
MatthewCA says...
Hope Leon and Lee is the best replacement with quality in the middle. We cannot loose points in this season now like that.
Good Luck for FA CUP. A Good Win to Shutup lots of people. So gear up.
10:41am Wed 13 Feb 13
dangerous dave says...
As for Orr Murphy and Lowe simply not good enough but how many times do we have to say this - thousands can see it but the ones that count wont admit it!! As for Kean - well only time will tell but when the real pressure comes on very shaky!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still a point earned but not good!!
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH HENDRY VENKYS COAR
10:46am Wed 13 Feb 13
forever blue and white says...
10:50am Wed 13 Feb 13
forever blue and white says...
10:51am Wed 13 Feb 13
1952 rover says...
10:52am Wed 13 Feb 13
1952 rover says...
11:01am Wed 13 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue says...
11:16am Wed 13 Feb 13
Harwoodstblue says...
11:29am Wed 13 Feb 13
owd nick says...
11:32am Wed 13 Feb 13
owd nick says...
But he is correct about needing a real leader on the field, that is what we are desperately short of.
11:36am Wed 13 Feb 13
Mytimeto says...
M A is getting rid of the right players. I just feel we need more fighters in the team, to add to what we have. And all for bringing through the youngsters to do this.
But nice to have a welcome message to the board anyhow.
11:46am Wed 13 Feb 13
Nelsonblue says...
11:51am Wed 13 Feb 13
leitchy says...
11:53am Wed 13 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Went to the game and we really weren't great at all! Dann and Hanley were immense and Kean also after a very shaky start. We created little or nothing all game. Murphy and Lowe are far too similar players. I actually thought Murphy played ok - at least tried to get the ball forward a few times without lumping it in the air to Rhodes ala Orr. Didn't notice Lowe at all in the second half.
We really need someone in midfield who is going to drive forward. I'm sorry to say it, but this game was crying out for someone like Rochina last night.
The second half was very poor. We just sat back and invited them on to us. Closing down was terrible. It was Orr just hoofing the ball away to Rhodes (who I thought had a really poor game tonight) that resulted in the passage of play which led to the penalty. The ball should have been comfortably in our possession.
I also couldn't understand the no subs. After Murphy was booked the crowd were trying to get him sent off appealing for every tackle he made (or didn't make). With ten minutes to go surely Pedersen would have been a safer bet. Even in stoppage time just to break up Brighton's momentum to make a few subs would have seemed sensible. Although maybe App was still having nightmares about Goodwillie's disastrous contribution the last time we played Brighton.
I will also be likely lambasted for saying this, but I do think it is possible to sub Rhodes sometimes. Really wasn't his night tonight. Also seemed to pick up a slight knock in the second half from an advertising board and surely Gomes deserves a run. He looked great in the warm up.
Aye, a good account of last nights game, but I will say this - Brighton fans are the most unsporting, ungracious b'strds I've had the pleasure to come across since Stoke on their maiden season in the Prem. If that is how they wish to support the club then they can swivel for me.
A period in the first half in the ground you could here a pin drop such was the atmosphere with the home crowd.
528(approx) BRFC and we out sung them all evening on a freezing night !
Brighton, as you would expect had us under the cosh and still they never got behind their team until they thought I know what - let's boo and appeal for everything which makes this point the more sweeter for the B&W's.
24528 last night and 500 put them to shame. I will say this, Appleton and his charges appreciated the vocal away support fighting for that shirt.
The standard of refereeing along with his assistants was shocking. Penalty ? Well, from my perspective ? When are these people going to take the conditions into consideration ?
My man of the match ?
Jake Kean after pulling off two simultaneous point blank saves prior to one that was equal. Awesome. This boy can keep let me tell you !
Had they gone in we would have been looking at at 3 or 4 defeat.
Poyet as gone down in my estimation with his South American managerial antics ! They did it at Ewood and they did it last evening, but still our boys stood up to it.
We had five bookings to their one. Shocking !
Kean was livid at the assistant(along with others) and he went into the book.
A priceless point well earned making our 13 hour round trip a tad easier.
A massive thanks to Appleton and the boys in the B&W shirt for that.
Arte et labore
12:01pm Wed 13 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem says...
Hignett, Berg, Short, Todd, Neil, Dickov, Flitcroft, Ooijer, Savage, Salgado, Reid, Bellamy, Tugay, Samba, Nelson, Jones, Friedel.
Some of 'em captains, some of 'em natural leaders, some of 'em ranters and ravers and some of 'em battlers that you want in a rammie.....but all ot them you would want on your side if it came down to hey-lads-hey. who do we really have in our current squad that compares to that list in terms of leadership?....the closest we have is Murphy, but a third of the way through his two year contract, he hasn't grabbed me (or the opposition) by the balls anywhere near enough yet. he still can but he needs to stop sulking
12:04pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Two Hats says...
12:20pm Wed 13 Feb 13
bburnrover says...
12:39pm Wed 13 Feb 13
gilly harwood says...
12:51pm Wed 13 Feb 13
leitchy says...
12:54pm Wed 13 Feb 13
leitchy says...
1:09pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Keen O to Get Kean Out says...
1:09pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Quoted by Mr Hasslem and in no way contradicting you here, but Murphy took a booking last night with a challenge in the middle that one would expect.
Mr Hass, attempting in tackling those prima donnas last night you would think they had a form of protection afforded for the higher calibre type ?
Take from I this was hard earned under the circumstances !
Our frustration could have boiled over resulting in a heavy defeat which I believe was the tactic as the game wore on ? This was a Tuesday night game heavily weighted in the home teams favor.
A point worth taking regardless of the opinion on this board ;-)
Arte et labore
1:16pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Take your head out of your querulous backside and get down to the reality !
Works every time, pal !
Arte et labore
1:30pm Wed 13 Feb 13
srvp28 says...
1:31pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Two Hats says...
1:33pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Will P says...
For the game, i'm happy with the point. This kind of 'tiki-taka' style would of destroyed us a couple of months ago so it's proving that our defence is capable, we just need a defensive leader.
The centre of the park is the worrying part, it just isn't ticking. Of course it was highlighted yesterday, but it didn't dictate against Bristol, Ipswich etc. Lowe and Murphy are more defensive minded midfielders so, if it's possible, we need to find a centre mid who's more of a playmaker. (Not Rochina, a playmaker knows when to pass).
Once the midfield is cracked, there is no reason why we can't get into the playoffs.
It'd be nice to shock Arsenal, but quite frankly we have more important things to sort out. I'd rather watch premier league football come August than a cup run.
We can beat Hull next tuesday.
1:44pm Wed 13 Feb 13
Mytimeto says...
MA is way more qualified than myself and sure can see the gaps as Hasslem mentions above with me.
We miss the likes of Nelson, Roberts, Samba, Friedel even P Jones which on and off the field pushed us more.
I'm not overly sure who in the current market would fill that hole. As ones available may not be ideal on the field through age.
I guess thats why we are linked with ambitious players alike Bentley, Thomas. To help someone step up within the squad.
But you can see at QPR for instance Redknapp playing Derry, Samba etc. That experience, leadership will drive the team around it.
We have some great youngsters and its very close to settling how we all want it.
3:22pm Wed 13 Feb 13
To.guy says...
3:24pm Wed 13 Feb 13
thommovat says...
3:28pm Wed 13 Feb 13
To.guy says...
4:09pm Wed 13 Feb 13
passingfootball says...
5:02pm Wed 13 Feb 13
CARover says...
Thanks for your insight and thoughts on the game, I would agree that Rhodes could/should be subbed if struggling it does not take away what he has contributed of late
Here’s to giving Arsenal a game and to continuing the movement upwards
5:55pm Wed 13 Feb 13
andyproc says...
9:13pm Wed 13 Feb 13
modan says...
Couple of wins and we will be up there.
We need few more signing and give Mama Desai a call we need couple of million Rupees if the Venys are serious about promotion PL.
If Rovers do get promoted to PL Mr Appleton might get a Rolls Royce with a number plate (RAJAH) King and a Hair tansplant too.
We need to liven the place up at Ewood Park with Bollywood Dancers and drums like Brazil.
We need our fans back at Ewood Park and the only way is to sack Shebby and Hendry and bring in Simon Garner or Alan Shearer as Club's PR man.
As for Dingles BRFC will be back in PL the Venkys are Bilionaires and will spend millions to put Rovers back in PL.
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I don't want to go through the Indian Billionaires list again.As we Know India is a emerging economy and will be economic Superpower by 2025 .India is the second largest Investors In UK and have created thousands of jobs for British workers.India could have invested in France or Germany but India is a special friend of UK and have 1.2 Million Indians living in UK and member of the Commenwealth .We British Indians want India to invest in UK and create jobs here in UK.We were upset India bought French fighter jets for £12 Billion as i would have like India to place it's order for Britain's fighter jets and safeguard British jobs for many years to come in the defence Industries.India is great ally of UK as Indian troops fought in second world wars.Britain and USA want India in G8 and permanent place in UN. Regardless with second biggest population in the World with 1.2 Billion ,India will get a place in G8 countries and Permanent seat at the UN table.
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10:04pm Wed 13 Feb 13
BashirShah says...
10:35pm Wed 13 Feb 13
modan says...
India,Pakistan,Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
India has emerged Obama prsident of USA
Britain must wake up India becoming a superpower Cameron Britan's Primeminister
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10:35pm Wed 13 Feb 13
kazluvsrovers says...
nobodys interested mate!!!!
4:01am Thu 14 Feb 13
Roverthere says...
5:46pm Thu 14 Feb 13
Angry From Accrington says...
6:47pm Thu 14 Feb 13
passingfootball says...
7:35pm Thu 14 Feb 13
modan says...
India is the second largest investors in UK sum of £24 Billion and created thousands of jobs in UK.Land Rover /Jaguar,Corus,Northe
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India is the second fastest growing economy in the world and will become economic superpower by 2025.India never colonized other countries or looted other countries.
India now has gven $5 Billion aid package to Africa
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