1:07pm Monday 10th March 2008
By Andy Neild
BLACKBURN Rovers defender Chris Samba said he and his team-mates had only themselves to blame for allowing two precious points to slip through their fingers against Fulham at the weekend.
Rovers appeared to be heading for a third straight victory in the Premier League, until Jimmy Bullard popped up with an 89th minute equaliser to earn struggling Fulham an unlikely share of the points.
Although there was an element of controversy about Bullard's late leveller, Samba said Rovers ultimately got what they deserved on the day, because he felt they were guilty of underestimating their relegation-haunted opponents.
"It's our fault because we were not mentally prepared - I think we thought it would be easy," lamented the Congo international.
"We have to learn a valuable lesson from this that no game in the Premier League is easy.
"It doesn't matter whether you are playing a team from the top of the league or a team from the bottom, you still have to prepare for each game in exactly the same way.
"I think we maybe went into it with the wrong attitude.
"The first half was just flat, nothing happened, and we just wasted 45 minutes. Then we ended up paying the consequences.
"We are very disappointed with this result and performance."
The day had started badly, with Portsmouth's victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup closing another possible avenue into Europe.
Then Rovers blew the chance to make up some vital ground on the teams above them in the table when they failed to build on Morten Gamst Pedersen's goal in the 59th minute.
"It's a big opportunity missed - it's the kind of game teams at the top would have closed out at 1-0 with five minutes to go but we didn't perform as a team," said Samba.
"We were wide open to the counter, and there is plenty for us to work on this week.
"What is disappointing is it's the things we do every game, and we know we can do, that let us down here.
"It was the kind of game we needed to take more seriously, player by player, from the very first moment we stepped on the pitch."
As for the free-kick that led to Fulham's equaliser, which was awarded against Samba for a high foot, the Rovers defender felt it was a harsh decision.
"It was a bit harsh. If it had been in the box then I'm sure he wouldn't have given it.
"The referee gave it for a high foot, but I had to make the challenge. I won the ball.
"He just said to me, 'Chris, you got the ball but I think it was dangerous play'. I think if it was in the box he'd never have given it.
"It's one of those that some days is given and other days it is not. On this occasion it was and it's cost us."
Rovers reserves play Newcastle United tonight at Morecambe's Christie Park (kick off 7pm).
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