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 37 - 56 of 116

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  1. fuc.k me how can callin g comment 51 a workshy c.u.n.t­ be considerd an invalid comment, all the liverpool­ supporters would agree

    From !, on Sat 3 Jan 2:30AM

  2. Christ, you're all strangely obsessed with Gerrard,­ listen to yourselves for five minutes... NO ONE GIVES A­ @#$% IF HE HIT SOME VERBALLY ABUSIVE DJ!

    From Adam B, on Sat 3 Jan 1:37AM

  3. condonell 95 you couldn,t bash in an egg you @#$%

    From liam, on Sat 3 Jan 12:33AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OMG!!!!... Liverfool is fielding an ASBO player...Put­ him into jail....

    From Lee, on Fri 2 Jan 11:43PM

  5. Gerrard is the best footballer in the world! he will be­ found inacent and even if he is not he won't go to­ prison cause its his first offence. Nothing is going to­ stop Liverpool winning the title this year!

    From nickreber, on Fri 2 Jan 11:36PM

  6. is liverpool vs preston on tv (should dat b preston­ fans vs gerrard) lol it'll b wel funny

    From margaret.kiely, on Fri 2 Jan 10:49PM

  7. YOUR MOTHER MIGHT KNOW U BUT YOUR DAD I WONDER

    From malcolm, on Fri 2 Jan 10:26PM

  8. I MEAN WELL OUT OF ORDER I WONDER WHAT CLASS U COME­ FROM

    From malcolm, on Fri 2 Jan 10:24PM

  9. SILENT F**** U ARE WELL OUT OF ORDER

    From malcolm, on Fri 2 Jan 10:23PM

  10. the hole man u sqad is a bunch of­ peado's[pedophiles] did i forget to menson that­ their arsholes

    From Tahyean, on Fri 2 Jan 10:20PM

  11. people with no class hate famous people because they­ are jealous, they think the world owes them a favour­ when most of them are too lazy to go out and get a­ job,its easy to say stuff on a pc,try going out and­ working you lazy c.u.n.t.s the guy has talent,­ liverpool pay his wages, hate the club but not the­ player, would you turn down the money he gets? tho­ saying that most of you manc fans would faint,­ you've not seen more than ya giro each week for 10­ years or so

    From !, on Fri 2 Jan 9:35PM

  12. This could backfire on all of the Man U fans who might­ recall that on the many occasions when their players­ have crossed the 'naughty line', it actually­ galvanised the club and their siege mentality kicked­ in. Who knows maybe the incident that you are all­ enjoying making your comments might similarly galvanise­ the redmen of merseyside.

    From busybee, on Fri 2 Jan 9:31PM

  13. Brainless, and a total wankshaft, 44 and 46 need to­ feel some scouse justice, shame their too chicken @#$%­ to say this stuff in public, they only go out at night ­ nicking womens knickers off washing lines,you manc scum

    From !, on Fri 2 Jan 9:31PM

  14. WALK THE GREEN MILE Gerrard LIFE IN CHAINS

    From I TYSON, on Fri 2 Jan 9:25PM

  15. Long live justice. A famous person gets arrested and­ charged for bashing someone and he is free to­ ''resume'' his activities. Awesome.­ Clichés like ''until facts are known''­ and ''he is a legend'' and­ ''leave him alons'' only show the lack­ of brain cells in the person's mind. Why do you­ think athletes are suspended upon positive drug tests­ and until the 2nd test is completed? Why do ministers­ step down temporarily until investigations of wrong­ doings are completed? Yet this Captain Criminal has­ already been found worth a trial by the police. This is­ not selling weapons to Zimbabwe. This is a simple­ situation where 3 people bashed a person. What facts do­ you really need before understanding it? Unless you­ think police are bored, or that Gerard's lawyers­ are underpaid, this matter clearly could not be­ avoided. Yet he is free to play, and since justice is a­ myth, the big machine will start working and Gerrard­ will suddenly be found not guilty, probably he would­ become the hero who stopped the bashing, and one of his­ co-accused will take the heat. Meanwhile, keep your­ hands in the sand and keep thinking ''he is­ innocent, and he loves me''

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 2 Jan 9:25PM

  16. Damn comment 38, calling someone a spastic is cool­ these days? are you stuck in the 80's?.
    Be a man­ and call em a c.u.n.t ffs.
    Good luck stevie G, f.uck­ all you haters,you're just pissed you dont have a­ player of his quality in your teams.
    David beckham is­ also disliked, but thats more to do with his wife, and­ him wearing her thongs. ynwa

    From !, on Fri 2 Jan 9:20PM

  17. Hey malarona10 ?issoff these forums and go offer your­ services elsewhere

    From vlf126, on Fri 2 Jan 9:14PM

  18. Ah the poor liverpool scousers FANS ,wait and see what­ happens at the match when Gerrardine girlie gets the­ ball HAHAHAHA stinkin pig nosed scouser...

    From vlf126, on Fri 2 Jan 9:13PM

  19. it's odd that gazza is regarded as a national­ treasure yet he was a self confessed wife batterer.

    From busybee, on Fri 2 Jan 8:41PM

  20. keep your head up lad, as you are a legend on­ mersyside, all liverpool fans are behind up,­ "You'll Never Walk Alone" stevie G

    From donneysbeck, on Fri 2 Jan 8:34PM
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