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 57 - 76 of 116

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  1. One thing that get my goat is those people who go way­ to far in there digs about other teams and managers i­ have been a liverpool fan for 30 yrs now and yes i am­ proud of the team and the players but i also can admit­ when another team has done well , yes for sometime­ liverpool has not achived what has been expected but i­ never take away from another team there achievements ,­ and yes i also so say the fergy is one of the best­ managers of british football , just as shankly and­ paisley were for us , what has happened to steve g has­ happened and i will suport him all the way as other­ fans do for there players , we should just enjoy the­ beautiful game and leave the player to do there job ,­ tell the press to BUTT OUT .

    From Stew M, on Sat 3 Jan 5:09PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Gerrard is the best!!!!!!!!!! this whole situation has­ been blown out of all proportion by the press -he will­ always be the greatest!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Liverpool are the­ team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Charleyd, on Sat 3 Jan 3:05PM

  3. Gerrard adds yet siht more to Liverpool history

    From Sadoldgit, on Sat 3 Jan 2:52PM

  4. YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE! YOU WILL NEVER WALK­ ALONE!!!!!!!! GO LIVERPOOL!!!

    From Varun, on Sat 3 Jan 2:29PM

  5. Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
    Your thug and you think your­ hard
    Soon you'll be watched by a prison guard
    Steve­ Gerrard, Gerrard

    From stevez2009, on Sat 3 Jan 1:57PM

  6. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP, LIGA, SERIE A,­ BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE
    ­
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Sat 3 Jan 1:52PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    YES SCUM

    From malcolm, on Sat 3 Jan 1:28PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Steve Geeeeeee the little biscuit boy no what a mean u­ LIVERPOOL SCUM

    From malcolm, on Sat 3 Jan 1:25PM

  9. the mighty preston will win 2day goal scorer will be ya­ twistin me mellor man... call the cops gerrards throwin­ digs everywhere... oovar voo. ooora noo

    From Jasoptimum851, on Sat 3 Jan 12:39PM

  10. Does anybody remember Cantonas Karate Kick on that fan­ in the stands? Well i say Karate kick. The closest he­ has come to anything oriental is when he dips his frogs­ legs, horse meat and snails into his chow mein.­ STINKING GIT. Manc fans, you are SOO not perfect. Nice­ to see Fergusson moaning again. Sir Alex The @#$% if­ you dont like the fixture list go back to Scotland­ Manage Aberdeen and give everybodys ears a rest.

    From Bill, on Sat 3 Jan 12:37PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @#$% me Gerard, please pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease pleaseplease­ pleaseplease pleaseplease­ please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Tem. T, on Sat 3 Jan 12:13PM

  12. c'mon liverpool.

    From saqiblet, on Sat 3 Jan 12:09PM

  13. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP, LIGA, SERIE A,­ BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE
    ­
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Sat 3 Jan 11:35AM

  14. Whohou Skrtel is back!! (party)

    From virtualcop_14, on Sat 3 Jan 9:39AM

  15. Why all this @#$% about Gerrard which was something off­ the pitch and the truth will come out in court, instead­ of talking about the red cards of Chelsea players. They­ managed in 2008 to have more red cards between them­ than the rest of the entire PL

    From EleanaV, on Sat 3 Jan 8:52AM

  16. if you look in the team line up its torres starting up­ front and arbeloa at right back
    is this true? TORRES­ COMEBACK?

    From united4lifebaby, on Sat 3 Jan 8:47AM

  17. Finally , (Hopefully) Gerrard has calmed down. He might­ score at Preston North End.
    Unless Torres gets all of­ them I think he`s playing.

    From Nath, on Sat 3 Jan 7:53AM

  18. we love you stevie g...f f f f f f f f f the haters, ­ as they know @#$%. Y.N.W.A

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 3 Jan 6:22AM

  19. Will everyone just pack it in about Gerrard, whether it­ be those bashing him and wishing him thrown in jail and­ the key thrown away or those delusional enough to­ believe because he's a footballer and so great he­ won't get stuck in jail. If he's found guilty­ of what they've charged him with no matter if­ it's his first offence he will serve time, it may­ be short it may be long, that's up to the judge. If­ he's not found guilty, then he'll be free to­ annoy the life out of all the opposition fans who hate­ him so much just as he does now. So until he has been­ tried, pack it in.

    From davidjmmuir, on Sat 3 Jan 5:42AM

  20. Silent~screamz, the comments that you post here are­ from a very imbalanced person. Does Steven Gerrard care­ that much for you like you for him? It's you who I­ feel sorry for more than anyone else on here.

    From sappercommando25, on Sat 3 Jan 5:03AM
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