Premier League - Allardyce off to Blackburn flyer

Eurosport - Sun, 21 Dec 13:13:00 2008

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce began his tenure at the club in emphatic fashion as his side beat Stoke City 3-0 at Ewood Park.

FOOTBALL Sam Allardyce Blackburn Rovers 2008 Premier League 2008 - 0

A brace from Benni McCarthy and a Jason Roberts strike gave Rovers a three-goal lead at half-time, which they never looked in danger of squandering despite Stoke dominating the first-half possession.

If the appointment of Allardyce was a Christmas gift for Rovers, Stoke had festive generosity in abundance as, at times, diabolical defending gave the new manager the perfect start.

Yet the home side did anything but dominate proceedings: they were less than fluent in their play and failed to impose themselves in terms of possession... but Allardyce will not care less.

Tony Pulis had to make a last-minute change to his starting line-up when Thomas Sorensen sustained an injury in the warm-up, prompting Steve Simonsen to replace the Dane in goal.

Stoke enjoyed much of the early play with Glenn Whelan at the forefront, and it was the midfielder's cross-shot which almost lobbed Paul Robinson until the keeper managed to scramble back and tip the ball onto the bar.

But the home fans did not have to wait beyond the eighth minute for an early impact, with the recalled McCarthy dispatching a penalty kick emphatically after Morten Gamst Pedersen was needlessly scythed down by Ibrahima Sonko.

The South African's strike-partner, Roberts, then doubled his side's lead in the 17th minute, tapping in after the duo had combined with slick play to punish a poor attempted clearance from Ryan Shawcross.

No sooner had Ricardo Fuller scuffed his shot in-front of goal than McCarthy made it three, finishing from close-range after Roberts brought a parried save from Simonsen in the 26th minute.

Rarely has a scoreline less reflected the general run of play, but by this point Ewood Park was buoyant and Stoke were despondent, with Tony Pulis visibly seething on the touchline.

Immediately after the restart Stoke had a chance to reduce the arrears, with Abdoulaye Faye heading Delap's cross over the bar while Robinson was stranded.

The second half petered out before it had really started, but there were glimpses of quality. Whelan's sublime free-kick from 25-yards clipped Robinson's near post, and Cresswell stooped to head Tom Soares' cross against the same piece of woodwork.

Blackburn then had three chances in as many minutes to compound Stoke's misery. First, Roberts was offside following-up Pedersen's drilled shot; the striker then smashed his shot at Simonsen when through on goal once more; and finally McCarthy dented the near post with a shot from inside the area.

Roberts had a final chance to add to his tally in stoppage time, but his miss was frankly academic.

Jubilant celebrations from Allardyce and his players met the full-time whistle a minute later; the new man at Ewood Park clenched his fist and saluted the home fans after the best possible start to his reign.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 17 - 36 of 36

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  1. finally!

    From graceleeyinhui, on Mon 22 Dec 5:53AM

  2. Sappercommando 25 always talks some sense on these­ sites. This could be the bounce factor at Blackburn and­ it would be wise to wait and see what happens without­ being aggressive and discourteous to others who may­ have other views. You can have an opinion about­ football after 2 weeks if you want to, that is your­ right. It might be that you do not wish to watch it at­ all but that is an opinion.

    From taff, on Sun 21 Dec 6:47PM

  3. johnnywns, the chances the you shall revert to cleaning­ WCs is always going to be much higher than Paul­ Ince's, so, drop the immaturity here or don't­ publish anything at all, if you are incapable of making­ any sense.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 21 Dec 4:26PM

  4. andybiza, but you cannot exclude the fact that Paul­ Ince bit of more than he was capable of chewing and for­ this he paid the price. Surely he must have known the­ risk entering an arena that requires results on the­ conveyor belt. This is how the world works now.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 21 Dec 4:25PM

  5. Its not Incey's fault its the players and if they­ do not like the manager they simply underperfom like­ what happened to Ramos at tottenham.

    From andybiza, on Sun 21 Dec 3:31PM

  6. Big Sam did a good work.Like when he was in Bolton with­ the team whom have a very limit budget every­ seasons,but under big Sam.They could played some great­ football,wish him well and lead the Rovers out of­ trouble soon.Without a doubt Sam is a great choice in­ term of manager for Rovers,histroy and restult say it­ all

    From cathay747, on Sun 21 Dec 2:38PM

  7. they only beat Stoke after all, so lets sit back and­ watch 5 matches or so before the so called experts of­ this blog right off managers with their told you so­ approach.

    From damien p, on Sun 21 Dec 9:53AM

  8. jonessimon7, and that is the problem that exists in the­ so called "modern" game. The moment the­ result goes against the side, the manager is looking­ over his shoulder.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 21 Dec 9:01AM

  9. ince won his first game as well. look what happened­ there.

    From jonessimon7, on Sun 21 Dec 8:42AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I fail to understand what makes Newcastle United such a­ big club. I know that they have been on a spending­ spree in the past but that only helps put the­ establishment in bigger danger of being relegated in­ the end. Look at the once high and mighty (so they­ thought) Leeds United. It didn't take them long to­ finish up in the lower divisions, and never to return.­ So to all the Newcastle United "supporters"­ out there, including Gerrardo Guevara from­ Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, don't hold blow your­ trumpets too hard. If Newcastle were "big" as­ you all seem to claim, why are they not up there with­ the likes of Aston Villa then?

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 21 Dec 7:21AM

  11. go on blackburn!! finally win.... go on them for sackin­ paul ince as well!! gr8 job time to get out of­ relegation, they don't belong there

    From graceleeyinhui, on Sun 21 Dec 7:19AM

  12. SHEFF WED WHO ARE THEY THEY COULD NOT DRAW NEVER MIND­ BEAT BLYTHE SPARTANS
    SHEFF UTD ARE BIG CLUB

    From malcolm, on Sun 21 Dec 6:34AM

  13. zsfsdfdafsadfdsafsadfsafsad

    From ivan, on Sun 21 Dec 6:24AM

  14. newcastle big fans not a big club, i hate newcastle­ fans thinking they r a big club they r not, swfc have­ won more and r a bigger club, just not as many fans,­ all ur geodies who think just because u have a large­ fan base make u a big club, no way, well done big sam,­ up the owls

    From Steven, on Sun 21 Dec 6:13AM

  15. Rob2B post 15:
    So then, what are you peddling on here­ then? People should be able to have their opinions,­ however nonsense they might seem to you, without you­ reacting in such a personal way. You wouldn't be­ spouting like that to her face, would you?

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 21 Dec 6:07AM

  16. A new manager comes in & suddenly the players start­ play. It happens all the time so Blackburn fans dont­ get to carried away!!

    From tc, on Sun 21 Dec 5:32AM

  17. Wherever did you get the idea that Newcastle are a big­ club?

    From , on Sun 21 Dec 4:52AM

  18. Rob2B
    I have forgotten more than you learnt about­ football

    From dianesellars, on Sun 21 Dec 4:37AM

  19. Blackburn fans i wouldn't get carried away, BIG SAM­ first game at NEWCASTLE win then pear-shaped yes.
    He­ did not have a clue small club like Blackburn and Low­ gates he might be OK but not at a big club, just wait­ and see.
    NEWCASTLE FAN

    From malcolm, on Sun 21 Dec 4:21AM

  20. Rob2B
    Your ridiculous post just shows that you know­ absolute zip about football mate.
    One game, one game­ against a terrible stoke city of all teams, and your­ point that Sham's the man is proven? Do me a­ favour, come back after 6 games and then we'll see­ huh?
    Oh yes, your comment about comment-12 shows­ you're also a sexist pig, someone who belongs way­ back in the dark ages.

    From cameron w, on Sun 21 Dec 4:13AM
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