FULL-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0 Aston Villa 1 (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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FULL-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0 Aston Villa 1
12:54pm Wednesday 27th July 2011 in Blackburn Rovers match reports
FULL-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0 Aston Villa 1
BLACKBURN Rovers were beaten by Aston Villa in a hard-fought encounter in the Asia Trophy in Hong Kong today.
The game was goalless at half time but Darren Bent was credited with the winner in the 49th minute after getting on the end of Barry Bannan's right-wing cross, although it remained unclear if he actually got a touch.
Rovers came close to an equaliser shortly afterwards when Christopher Samba's storming run ended with a lay-off to Brett Emerton, but Given tipped the Australian's curling effort wide at full stretch.
Villa could have added a second with four minutes to go when Marc Albrighton pounced on a loose ball and drove towards goal but Robinson did brilliantly to turn his fierce effort around the near post.
In the first half Rovers had the first meaningful attempt when Mauro Formica saw a stinging drive parried away by Given.
Shortly after, David Dunn linked up with the same player but his 25-yard drive was too high.
Stiliyan Petrov's neat touch saw the Bulgarian race clear in the 25th minute but he fired straight at Paul Robinson, the last good chance of the opening period.
Rovers will now play again on Saturday against the loser of today's other semi final between Chelsea and Hong Kong side Kitchee.
Rovers: Paul Robinson, Michel Salgado (Nick Blackman 76), Martin Olsson, Chris Samba, Gael Givet, Brett Emerton, David Dunn (Vince Grella 76), Steven Nzonzi, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Jason Roberts, Mauro Formica.
Subs not used: Mark Bunn, Jake Kean, Grant Hanley, Zac Aley, Myles Anderson, Adam Henley, Nick Blackman, Ryan Nelsen, Keith Andrews, Ruben Rochina, Junior Hoilett.
Aston Villa: Shay Given, Luke Young, Richard Dunne, James Collins, Stephen Warnock, Barry Bannan (Marc Albrighton 65), Jean Makoun (Fabian Delph 65), Stiliyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor (Nathan Delfouneso 65), Emile Heskey, Darren Bent.
Subs not used: Brad Guzan, Ciaran Clark, Habib Beye, Eric Lichaj, Chris Herd, Andrew Marshall, Shane Lowry, Gary Gardner, Stephen Ireland, Jonathan Hogg.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (48)
12:59pm Wed 27 Jul 11
makaveli96 says...
1:01pm Wed 27 Jul 11
jackslad1955 says...
1:01pm Wed 27 Jul 11
bburnrover says...
1:04pm Wed 27 Jul 11
ChrisSutton says...
.
Usually these sorts of tournaments are for you to show off your summer aquisitions and build some hype. Taking over our currently very thin squad hasn't really done anyone any favours.
.
D.K.O
1:04pm Wed 27 Jul 11
gosportdunc says...
1:06pm Wed 27 Jul 11
ROVERBOY says...
Formica looks a decent player with some promise.
Buy a striker hopefully one that can score
1:06pm Wed 27 Jul 11
ChrisSutton says...
.
D.K.O
1:15pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Stone Island says...
1:17pm Wed 27 Jul 11
burner says...
1:29pm Wed 27 Jul 11
J.C - Rishton says...
.
I can't recall a Rovers squad with less goals in them, Hoillett apart their isnt a Rovers player who can get any where near 10 goals this season.
.
We need to buy 2 QUALITY (no not Benjani) strikers NOW (before the 13th Aug not 31st as we play a 38 game season not a 35 game one) and if that means we have to pay slightly over the odds for them then so be it (basic econmics, if someone has what you want and they arnt bothered about selling then you have to pay more than the item is worth in order for the selling party to part with the item).
.
If we don't add a quality striker AND lose CS it will be a very very long depressing season (although I'm sure Venkies will spin us some cr@p about big signings in Jan !!).
.
Also, why did we only use 2 substitutions ? when the amount had been increased from 5 to 7 because of the hot/humid weather - very strange management thinking.
1:29pm Wed 27 Jul 11
J.C - Rishton says...
.
I can't recall a Rovers squad with less goals in them, Hoillett apart their isnt a Rovers player who can get any where near 10 goals this season.
.
We need to buy 2 QUALITY (no not Benjani) strikers NOW (before the 13th Aug not 31st as we play a 38 game season not a 35 game one) and if that means we have to pay slightly over the odds for them then so be it (basic econmics, if someone has what you want and they arnt bothered about selling then you have to pay more than the item is worth in order for the selling party to part with the item).
.
If we don't add a quality striker AND lose CS it will be a very very long depressing season (although I'm sure Venkies will spin us some cr@p about big signings in Jan !!).
.
Also, why did we only use 2 substitutions ? when the amount had been increased from 5 to 7 because of the hot/humid weather - very strange management thinking.
1:33pm Wed 27 Jul 11
stew rovers fan 85 says...
1:39pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Kaicho says...
The reason why Kalinic struggled from the off is because we seem to play a system that is totally opposite to the natural game our international players want to play. The quality of our players on international duty is far superior to the quality I saw today.
So frustrating when the majority of fans could do a better job putting together a system that works.
We could really do with some new players but, dare I say it, better management and coaching set up would be more beneficial. And why did we get lumped with owners who can best be described as the jokers in the pack?
1:41pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Kaicho says...
1:50pm Wed 27 Jul 11
OnePostThenTheOther says...
og day. Absolutely no signs of improvement from the mediocre stuff that was dished up last season.
But hey, there's a whole 2 weeks in which to solve or defensive/midfield/a
ttacking frailties. Keep the faith beautiful people humble people.
Shirt looks like Oldham or Millwall from side i.e. wrong.
1:58pm Wed 27 Jul 11
J.C - Rishton says...
.
I take it you didnt actually see the game because if you did then the lack of a striker was much more obvious even that it usually is with Rovers.
Generally performances were okay as individuals and we pretty much matched a very average PL team all over the park - the difference was they always looked like they could score and we never really ever looked (or looked like we beleived we could) score.
2:03pm Wed 27 Jul 11
J.C - Rishton says...
.
However, its not just the management and tactics (as average as they are) but we are desperately short of 3 or 4 QUALITY players - if we get them (don't hold your breath with these owners) then we could actually have a decent side.
2:03pm Wed 27 Jul 11
J.C - Rishton says...
.
However, its not just the management and tactics (as average as they are) but we are desperately short of 3 or 4 QUALITY players - if we get them (don't hold your breath with these owners) then we could actually have a decent side.
2:11pm Wed 27 Jul 11
bburnrover says...
2:30pm Wed 27 Jul 11
footballclubblackburn says...
http://www.facebook.
com/FootballClubBlac
kburn
and
http://www.pitchero.
com/clubs/fooballclu
bblackburn
thanks football club blackburn.
2:37pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Keep Darwen Green says...
I think some people need to take a step back, its pre season and we played premier league opposition, its better than playing Hartlepool or Torquay, its a better workout. And if that heat made dunny lose 2 stone means he's only got another 1 to go :0).
KDG
2:39pm Wed 27 Jul 11
onlyonesimongarner says...
Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean has claimed that the club can achieve top four status and Champions League football by 2015. Despite narrowly avoiding relegation last season and signing no one this summer, the bookies favourite for the chop is in confident mood ahead of his first full season as a football manager, so we delved into his mind* to determine what else might be going on in 2015…
IN 2015… SCOTLAND WILL BE REIGNING EUROPEAN AND WORLD CHAMPIONS
Trailing Spain and the Czech Republic in Euro 2012 Group I qualifying, the Tartan Army's chances of appearing at the European Championships are beginning to take a familiar route. Jim Leighton was still their goalkeeper when they last qualified in 1996, but Steve Kean - a proud Glaswegian - would no doubt foresee a dramatic change in fortune. Scotland will go on to top their qualifying group, demolishing World and European champions Spain at the Bernabeu en route to glory in the finals (where England lose all three games). Buoyed by Euro triumph, Scotland head to Brazil where they spank England 5-0 in the first round, while Blackburn's rookie defender Grant Hanley will become the first man since Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, as the Scots stun hosts Brazil. Steve Kean, of course, will be the tactical mastermind behind Scotland's glory.
IN 2015… HAIR TRANSPLANTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE NHS
The power of Keano's positive thinking alone may not be able to restore his hair to its former glories, but – thanks to Wayne Rooney's high-profile hair transplant – the NHS will be persuaded to offer the op to all. Bucking the trend for public sector budget cuts, this controversial move will allow Steve to model his locks on the blond mullet of former Blackburn and Scotland captain Colin Hendry, a player whose volume he's always envied and admired.
IN 2015… STEVE KEAN WILL STILL BE MANAGER OF BLACKBURN ROVERS
If the prospect of Champions League football at Ewood Park in 2015 is surprising, then brace yourselves for this startling revelation: Steve Kean predicts Steve Kean will still be in charge of Rovers. The bookies' favourite to land an early p45 this season is confident of keeping Christopher Samba at the club, despite losing Phil Jones to Man United and no doubt boosted by the signing of… er, no one as yet. None of that matters, however, when you've got Keith Andrews in midfield.
IN 2015… THE FA WILL ERECT A STATUE OF SEPP BLATTER OUTSIDE WEMBLEY STADIUM
The unopposed winner of a farcical 2011 FIFA presidential election, slippery Swiss OAP Sepp Blatter will retire from the lucrative world of football administration in 2015 and, according to Steve Kean, the FA will erect a tribute Michael Jackson-style statue of SB outside Wembley Stadium.
2:54pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Keep Darwen Green says...
KDG
2:56pm Wed 27 Jul 11
adcr says...
one proviso is when kalanic goes we need to reinvest the money immediatly on a young talented forward. I don't think it would be a good idea to buy another forward who is over 30.
please i hope this wish list is true, if it is i think everyone will be back onside regarding the venkys
3:06pm Wed 27 Jul 11
J.C - Rishton says...
.
Also, its not just signing players, we need to sign Hoilett on a longer deal and keep CS.
.
Then, and only then, we will all get behind Venkies until then a large chunk of Rovers fans will view them as lying, theiving scumbags - has Mrs Desai actually comented on Rovers without telling at least 1 lie ??
3:07pm Wed 27 Jul 11
oreilly21 says...
3:19pm Wed 27 Jul 11
adcr says...
I agree the hoilett situation is worrying, the samba situation not as much YET! because if there is no bids coming in at this stage suggests spurs and arsenal won't pay the money or are looking elsewhere.
regarding raul there has been talk all summer and last season of him coming, i think salgado would talk him round. the reason i put his name down is because tribalfootball think he is a target.
http://www.tribalfoo
tball.com/articles/b
lackburn-make-new-mo
ve-schalke-veteran-s
triker-raul-1780971
I put honda's name down in hope rather than anything concrete. Although, when he was linked with us recently it came from multiple sources and they all claimed we had put a bid in.
so fingers crossed.
3:20pm Wed 27 Jul 11
ChrisSutton says...
.
One of the best posts I've seen in a while.
.
D.K.O
3:22pm Wed 27 Jul 11
ChrisSutton says...
.
D.K.O
4:26pm Wed 27 Jul 11
taurus1530 says...
4:29pm Wed 27 Jul 11
mrconcept says...
5:04pm Wed 27 Jul 11
OnePostThenTheOther says...
"We just maybe lacked a cutting edge a little bit but I thought up until the top end of the pitch, everything else clicked."
Kean, are you not tired of saying the same thing game after game after game?
Rovers fans have heard this same line for 3 back to back seasons since Crocky's one-off, and for a few more before that.
The way things are going we have more of the same to look forward to for yet another season. Blackman - can't take a shot, Formica - can't take a shot, Roberts - can't shoot full stop.
Either sort it out as per the stated intention or just shut up.
5:07pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Davebluealbert says...
5:19pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Stone Island says...
5:28pm Wed 27 Jul 11
ChrisSutton says...
.
Why does it always have to be a comparison? Truth be told I wasn't exactly enamoured with Sam either, but he at least made us hard to beat.
.
Keans record is just flat out dreadful. Now you can say it may improve this season and all that, but don't try and re-write his abysmal run of results last season.
.
D.K.O
7:02pm Wed 27 Jul 11
SaveourStanley101 says...
7:07pm Wed 27 Jul 11
SaveourStanley101 says...
7:53pm Wed 27 Jul 11
Stone Island says...
11:20pm Wed 27 Jul 11
oreilly21 says...
4:45am Thu 28 Jul 11
Rovers4TenYears says...
Other than the match, the marketing staffs are shiiiit. They didn't even bring some souvernir to sell! Though the number of BR fans are small but here we are. So let me ask them what's their purpose of bringing the team to Hong Kong? I can see the happy face of Chelsea fans not only because Chelsea played the match seriously but everyone could get some small gifts for free (e.g. a small Chelsea flag, a small book introducing their players, etc).
7:28am Thu 28 Jul 11
ossyrover1 says...
8:49am Thu 28 Jul 11
Davebluealbert says...
Actually lads, I was being a bit mischievous earlier, what I was really going to point out that, 9 defeats in 21 is 43% defeats, 8 in 17 is 47%. So in actual fact we were harder to beat under Kean than under his predessesor!
But you are correct, big sam picked up more points. My point is, our problem under Kean was lacking a finisher, as it has been since Santa Cruz stopped scoring under Ince. We won just 5 but drew 7 under Kean last year and at least 4 of those draws, I seem to remember being out of my seat several times in anticipation of a finish, only to be disappointed once more.
I'm not Kean's biggest fan either but I have seen him try to address the striker problem with limited success. He brought RSC back in Jan, which didn't work, but hindsight is a great thing. He tried all our combinations of current strikers to the realisation that none of them are good enough. Unfortunately, in football, it's not like playing "championship Manager", you can't just get a player because you want one or sell one because they're not good enough, the players and their agents have a big say.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is, that for me the jury is still out on Kean. He hasn't really got all the tools to work with. However, if we finally get our fingers out and bring some useful players into the club, and still aren't performing, then I'll be the first new addition to your DKO club.
In the meantime I have my ticket and like with all new seasons, (36 now and counting!) I'm bloody excited!
COYB
11:23am Thu 28 Jul 11
Reg Rover says...
I do not like to say I told you so, but “I told you so”
Reg has been heavily criticised by some Rovers supporters for my opposition to the Venky’s takeover of the Blackburn Rovers and the way they have gone about running this famous club. On the other hand some supporters have agreed with my views, we are all entitled to our opinions, even the infamous Roa family can’t stop that.
Their catalogue of errors is well documented on my website. The latest fiasco is the situation with the bank, according to national press reports, having withdrawn overdraft facilities. This news, yet to be confirmed by Venky’s, really is not a surprise.
Banks have to have confidence in their customers, as we all know.
All confidence in Venky’s and the way they are running Blackburn Rovers has evaporated.
As I pointed out long time ago, you cannot sack a manager of proven ability and high profile like Sam Allardyce for no good reason and replace him with an inexperienced non-entity, then follow this up with the demise of chairman John Williams and chief executive Tom Finn.
The experience and good reputation of these three individuals is priceless to a football club trying to punch above its weight in the premiership. The sacking of these three and the continued influence of football agent Jerome Anderson and his Kentaro sports agency will not have met with favour from the club bankers.
With regard to Allardyce, the bank knows full well that premiership managers come and go at an alarming rate, but they at least like to see the clubs owners putting people of repute into these important positions, this is not the case at Blackburn, the risk of Rovers losing their premiership status is increased under Kean’s management, the bank know this, Kean represents a huge financial risk for the clubs bankers. The bank will take a dim view of the two years contract handed out by Kean to Myles Anderson, the son of agent Jerome Anderson, a Leyton Orient and Aberdeen reject. This would illustrate Kean is not fully in control and under the control and influence of Anderson, of whom Kean is a client. Banks will take very dim view of such interference, especially when condoned by the owners. None of this would of have happened with Allardyce in place. Its things like this that have set alarms bells ringing at the bank. Banks like to see business run efficiently and with prudence with people of proven ability. This is now not the case with Blackburn Rovers. The bank will have taken note of the ridiculous list of BIG players trotted out by the Roa brothers and their sister Mrs, “ I like to be entertained” Desai as potential signings re- enforced by Kean himself and know these big name signings were just not a realistic, but the Roa family just do not seem to get it.
For example, when the glazier family bought Man Utd, for massive money, not the pittance Venky’s paid for the Rovers, did they within weeks sack Alex Ferguson, chief executive David Gill, director Bobby Charlton, of course not!
These highly respectable and knowledgeable figures were kept firmly in place otherwise Man Utd would have plummeted. But then the Glaziers knowledge and experience of owning big sporting concerns and they knew to keep these people firmly in place, but not the Venky’s.
When I pointed out several months ago, the folly in sacking Allardyce and Williams, some correspondents belittled my opinion by saying “it was all part of business” and what happens when business’s changes hands.
No it is not, stability is the key word and change will evolve naturally over time. John Williams is now with the richest club in the world, Man City, in a senior administrative position. City could afford to employ anyone they wished, it is a credit to Williams ability that City head hunted him.
Allardyce is poised to revive West Ham and will do, make no mistake. Along with Tom Finn, how I wish all three were still at Rovers, the future would be bright.
I wrote several weeks ago that I feared Venky’s might “asset strip” the club and run. I was widely ridiculed, I also asked how safe was the Brockhole Complex never mind the players of value. It would appear Venky’s are not financial viable, if they have financial substance then they are certainly not prepared to put it behind Blackburn Rovers.
Why did they buy the club?
If they are serious about Blackburn Rovers being a successful club then employ a proper manager with status within the game, like for example Martin O’Neil or Mark Hughes but would anyone of that stature want to work for them? Probably not, what are the Roa family afraid off, maybe being found out by someone other than a “Yes Man”.
I dread the day when we open our national papers or turn on Sky Sports to hear those dreadful words that usually spell the beginning of the end.
“Wages Not Paid”
Impossible you may think, Reg is a scaremonger you may say.
I hope you are right, but I have not been far wrong yet !
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk
11:33am Thu 28 Jul 11
Reg Rover says...
According to press reports Venky’s have dispersed with the services of Jerome Anderson and his Kentaro agency, having paid him a small fortune to advise them to sack Sam Allardyce !, I told them back in December 2010 to get rid of Anderson,(see my website).
It now begs the question what does Steve Kean do with Anderson’s son Myles, the Leyton Orient and Aberdeen reject he gave a two year contract to, and we all thought money was tight!
Surely Kean is next for the chopping block.
Only problem is what manager anywhere will want to work for the Venky’s? Probably none, keeping Kean in a job, unfortunately.
Tony Parkes would make a better fist of things.
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk
11:42am Thu 28 Jul 11
Reg Rover says...
According to press reports Ventkatesh Roa is trying to lure the Spanish legend “Raul” to Ewood Park.
Raul joins a distinguished list of possible Rovers signings which includes, Maradona, Beckham, Ronaldinho, Van Nistelrooy, Pavone, Nicklas Bendtner and so on.
Obviously the Indian owners must think all Lancashire folk are thick.
Why do they “feed the press” such garbage, they really are taking us all for fools.
Then worst still they get Steve Kean to speak to the media reinforcing their ridiculous propaganda.
I do not now believe one word they utter, they are either liars or “living in cloud cuckoo land”, I will give them the benefit of the doubt and settle for “Cloud Cuckoo Land”
By peddling such garbage Steve Kean has lost all credibility. Remember a few short weeks ago on returning from yet another trip to India, have these people never heard of the wonders of modern communication or even the telephone? Kean announced a substantial budget for player recruitment, the likes of never seen before by Blackburn Rovers, has he never heard of Jack Walker? He then went on to “GUARANTEE” a top 10 premiership finish and the winning of a Cup Competition, “100 % certain” He added. His words not mine.
The man is stark raving mad, that’s all I can say.
According to the Daily Mirror 23rd July 2011, Venky’s are skint, the Mirrors words not mine.
A statement that is still to be denied by Venky’s, Why oh why did they buy my beloved Blackburn Rovers?, please please no more embarrassment, if you have nothing sensible to say, say nothing, we are already the laughing stock of the premiership and have not kicked a ball yet!
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk
11:58am Thu 28 Jul 11
Reg Rover says...
Lord Alan Sugar of The Apprentice Fame and worth over one million pounds sterling was once owner/chairman of Tottenham Hotspurs for over six years.
In a recent TV documentary looking back to his time at Spur’s he described it as “the biggest waste of time in his life”.
Asked to explain he said “I am not a football person, football people are a special breed”. I know exactly what he means and can relate it to the Roa Brothers and Mrs Desai, they are not football people.
At least Lord Sugar ran Spurs from White Hart Lane, This bunch of losers are trying to run Rovers from 5,000 miles away, impossible.
They should either sell the club or reinstate John Williams, if they can prise him from Man City, to sort out the mess.
At the very least the bank may gain more confidence in the sorry mess that is now Blackburn Rovers.
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk
12:05pm Thu 28 Jul 11
Reg Rover says...
In respect for the memory of the late Jack walker and for the sake of a famous football club and its supporters, I appeal for the Walker Trust and the immediate family of Jack Walker to buy back Blackburn Rovers before the club disappears into oblivion.
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk
12:06pm Thu 28 Jul 11
Reg Rover says...
In respect for the memory of the late Jack walker and for the sake of a famous football club and its supporters, I appeal for the Walker Trust and the immediate family of Jack Walker to buy back Blackburn Rovers before the club disappears into oblivion.
Reg
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk