FA Cup - Solid Blackburn down brave Blyth

Eurosport - Tue, 06 Jan 11:07:00 2009

Premier League side Blackburn Rovers avoided an FA Cup third round shock as they produced a professional performance to beat non-league side Blyth Spartans 1-0.

FOOTBALL Blyth Spartans' Shaun Reay and Blackburn Rovers' Carlos Villanueva battle for the ball FA Cup 2009 - 0

However, it was not until just before the hour mark that Carlos Villanueva finally broke the deadlock for Rovers at Blyth's tiny Croft Road ground, with the Chile international producing a stunning free-kick.

Nevertheless, with the exception of a nervy final 10 minutes, Sam Allardyce's side always looked in control of the contest despite making 11 changes from the side that started their last game against Manchester City.

Blue Square North side Blyth - who are 118 places below Blackburn in the league pyramid - showed plenty of guts and endeavour though and then nearly nicked an unlikely draw five minutes from time only for substitute Andrew Wright to side-foot a great chance just wide.

Rovers return to the North East in the fourth round where they will take on Sunderland in an all Premier League clash.

Blackburn completely dominated possession in the first-half. Their best effort in the opening period came after 12 minutes when Keith Treacy fired in a good low shot from the edge of the area but Blyth keeper Mark Bell got down low to bat the ball away.

Matt Derbyshire also mis-hit a great chance after an excellent ball from debutant Alan Judge and Richard Pell had to head away a powerful close range effort from Vincenzo Grella on the line.

After the break the match continued in a similar fashion with Villanueva curling a good effort just wide before he finally broke the deadlock when he swerved a free-kick over the wall and into the corner of the net for a fine goal.

He was immediately substituted after that effort though as first-team regulars Keith Andrews and Jason Roberts were brought on to try and wrap up the match.

Blackburn really should have done that too with Andrews and Zurab Khizanishvili both missing guilt edge chances from close range.

Treacy also saw an effort deflected on to the crossbar and Blackburn were nearly made to pay for their wastefulness as Blyth finally began to threaten in the closing stages.

It was Wright who really should have been the local hero as he was clear at the back post five minutes from time after being found with a superb cross from Alex Gildea but, with the goal at his mercy, the substitute conspired to side-foot across the face of goal and wide.

Moments later Gildea got his head on a free-kick but he could only direct it over the bar.

It was a credit to the non-league outfit that Blackburn then started playing for time in the closing moments, but Rovers' extra quality was just enough to see them home.

Seán Fay / Eurosport

Comment 97 - 116 of 116

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  1. Good on you Blyth went to the Phoenix n watched the match...could almost hear the cheers in Crammy lol, well done, very proud :P
    Btw eurosport its Croft Park noy Croft Road.

    From aliion, on Tue 6 Jan 5:28PM

  2. When Blackburn win, eurosport says... "SOLID BLACKBURN! STUNNING FREE-KICK!". This is called a 1 - 0 scrape.

    But when Liverpool win 2 - 0, we apparently "scraped" through.

    From Adam B, on Tue 6 Jan 8:22AM

  3. I know now.
    see yous

    From Nath, on Tue 6 Jan 7:16AM

  4. who scored? I have to go quick..

    From Nath, on Tue 6 Jan 7:15AM

  5. well done Blyth

    From elnino, on Tue 6 Jan 5:12AM

  6. well done Blyth , you done the north east proud , howay the lads

    From forsyth731, on Tue 6 Jan 12:51AM

  7. Leave davemackay alone. His 70-year old boyfriend just dropped him for a cat.

    From Half A Brain, on Tue 6 Jan 12:31AM

  8. davemackay your an fffing NONCE

    From Michael, on Tue 6 Jan 12:21AM

  9. I felt slightly cheated when I saw this game. I know Blackburn are in a bad position but I really did not know any of the players on view. It was very much like a match you see in the local parks on a Sunday, and I can tell you I have been there for years.
    All credit to Blythe for their efforts and I bet they are kicking themselves about that chance near the end but c'est la vie

    From taff, on Mon 5 Jan 11:56PM

  10. BIG FAT SAM YOU ARE @#$%

    From malcolm, on Mon 5 Jan 11:40PM

  11. Hard luck spartans you did north east proud

    From malcolm, on Mon 5 Jan 11:37PM

  12. well done Rovers!!!!!!!

    From Affi, on Mon 5 Jan 11:31PM

  13. shut up davemakay havent you got some blue vain to be munchin on helmet lickin sandwich brigade!!!!!

    From Rob, on Mon 5 Jan 10:42PM

  14. whether u r an open minded girl from the U.S. or just a gobby Liverpool or Man U fan
    mouthing off go back to fraggle rock u f@#kin muppets and stop leavin messages on this
    article which is about BLYTH AND BLACKBURN u f@#kin numpties.

    From davemackay77, on Mon 5 Jan 10:34PM

  15. jb 08 why dont u go polish sum scouse helmet and leave the kings of the world alone mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... scouse helmet

    From Rob, on Mon 5 Jan 10:31PM

  16. RE POST 24 WHERE R U FROM JAPAN LIKE THE REST OF MAN POO FANS?
    SAY NO MORE LOL

    From craigyb, on Mon 5 Jan 10:22PM

  17. is this the moan about the top 4 page. EHH NO ITS BLYTH V BLACBURN RESULTS AND COMMENTS.
    STOP talking about the top 4 give the lower teams a shout u IDIOTS.
    WELL PLAYED BLYTH HARD LINES.

    From craigyb, on Mon 5 Jan 10:16PM

  18. re post 94. im a scouser living in blyth whats that got 2 do with it do u go 2 local games or follow the top club in the area? i at most liverpool games at home and nearly every spartan home game. u f u k off and find a sunday league team 2 follow as blackburn getting beat of SUNDERLAND. HAHA

    From craigyb, on Mon 5 Jan 10:08PM

  19. what has this got 2 do with the top 4???????????????
    well done blyth u played well. they are 121 places above u and blackburn played @#$% lets hope the mackems beat them.

    From craigyb, on Mon 5 Jan 10:04PM

  20. I agree entirely with the gent who said can we confine comments to the article on show. If you want to say ha ha or up the reds or blues then fair enough but much better to do it on a site which contains a story about those teams. Plenty of opportunities there I can assure you. Going to watch this game now on Setanta.

    From taff, on Mon 5 Jan 8:06PM
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