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 77 - 96 of 116

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  1. i predict the followin:

    blyth 1-2 blackburn

    blyth 1-1 blackburn

    2-3 blackburn

    blyth 2-2 blackburn

    From vincentdeoliveira16, on Mon 5 Jan 7:15PM

  2. Blackburn have been miserable for a long time, it wood b nice if they won this match. good for sam al. blackburn players and the club itself, Paul Ince was a great player, but couldnt manage a team for shiiit.

    From vincentdeoliveira16, on Mon 5 Jan 7:14PM

  3. I agree with "The DOBBO" when the topic is about a certain match then dicuss about it...dont fookin' bring up about liverpool bein the best, or arsenal being poweful, and etc.

    P.S.
    (the first comment i made i did talk about other clubs bcuz i was introducin myself.)

    From vincentdeoliveira16, on Mon 5 Jan 7:11PM

  4. blyth spartans 0 v blackburn 4 spartans have done well to get this far.

    From Frank, on Mon 5 Jan 7:09PM

  5. Hi guys. um first of all let me introduce myself. im vincent and im from sweden and portugal. i follow along with many football leagues, especially the italien, spanish, english and portuguese. at times i at a peak on the other leagues too. i support 3 clubs : FCPorto, Manchester Utd and Inter. I do respect the fans from other clubs like arsenal, liverpool and etc. Basically im a football freak. :P NOW.....Blyth vs Blackburn. Well first of all i think blackburn will win the game. however usually smaller clubs or any club from the lower leagues intend to suprise teams from the prem. like Nottingham 3-0 win vs MAN CITY, wat a shock and also look how good Hull City r doin' in their 1st season in the prem!!!!they havnt been playin at the highest english football league in 100 years (i think ;P) Blyth will play really good against blackburn, who knows it mite b a draw. if blackburn play their average football, blyth will have complete control and have great space to produce dem goals.

    by the way Gerrard is a fantastic player and prob one of the best in the prem...but without him, liverpool r VERY VERY WEAK. if liverpool were to play against MAn Utd, and if man utd without Ronaldo or rooney or tevez, surely Man Utd would win. Gerrard is basically 60-70% of liverpools power force...watcha ye gonna say now :P...

    From vincentdeoliveira16, on Mon 5 Jan 7:03PM

  6. charleyd post 76 what are you on this has nothing to do with steve g so F UCK off you scoucer P RICK and comment on blackburn v blyth that goes for all you scoucer scum

    From The Dobbo, on Mon 5 Jan 6:59PM

  7. i think it would be huge if blyth won but i think rovers will be to strong for them

    From karl, on Mon 5 Jan 6:49PM

  8. shut up gregten2003 all she said was she would like to see blackburn don't take defeat so hard when they do beat you though, you sad person

    From tharumblestrips, on Mon 5 Jan 6:45PM

  9. Anna martin ..Typical comment from a woman, A geordie loving woman at that...This is a football page love..Now go and make your husbands tea , and stick to netball opinions from now on...

    From greg, on Mon 5 Jan 5:40PM

  10. come on blyth so us toonies can smack the makems again

    From LES P, on Mon 5 Jan 5:40PM

  11. I wish all you man utd liverpool man city ect would keep to your own teams comment pages this is for blyth v blackburn! I would love to see blyth win

    From mike k, on Mon 5 Jan 5:39PM

  12. I hope blackburn lose go spartens

    From anna.martin4, on Mon 5 Jan 1:16PM

  13. Re. Stew M. The most sensensible comment I have ever read - I agree 100%. It seems that many are looking for teams to "hate" rather than who they support.

    Re. Diane Sellars. I also agree - this has nothing to do with Blythe v Blackburn.
    On the same subject : What has "Stand up if you hate Arsenal" got to do with Spurs v Wigan ?

    From Malc, on Mon 5 Jan 10:05AM

  14. This makes me laugh. Shall we treat Gerrard like we treat Barton? I think we should personally.
    But no, the liverpool kids will support him. Even though he has assaulted someone. They will have a go at Barton but when it is one of his own they reckon he's innocent. Whats that all about? Still a good role model is he? Ha,ha. He's a Gonk if you ask me.
    If he has assaulted someone he should be treat the same as i would be treat after assaulting someone.
    Come on Blyth!

    From Laura, on Mon 5 Jan 9:27AM

  15. What has Gerrard got to do with Blyth v Rovers?

    People just need to leave the guy alone and forget about it till the judgement.

    COME ON BLACKBURN

    From dianesellars, on Sun 4 Jan 6:07PM

  16. sorry gov, im at home sick (cough, cough) cant make that drugs test s@@
    [
    ~~~

    From donneysbeck, on Sun 4 Jan 4:02PM

  17. this is a story about rio ferdinand and instead we get more blah blah blah about gerard.poor liverpool supporters need to calm down nobody cares about you

    From markbreen39, on Sun 4 Jan 1:52PM

  18. thought John Terry was England captain not Gerrard

    From drift91, on Sun 4 Jan 1:47PM

  19. Best ever gerrard hope he will free out court go stay in liverpool some comment is not nice please laeve gerrard alone. BEST EVER GERRARD LIVERPOOL

    From emmalovepat, on Sat 3 Jan 11:34PM

  20. someone has changed the points on de premya leuae tabe

    lfc points used to be 45 and now is 34

    From david.khanna, on Sat 3 Jan 6:18PM
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