Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield Town story posted by Sean Makin on 21/09/2005
Premier League Blackburn Rovers ran out 3-1 winners and were too strong for the Terriers, but the Town players made manager Peter Jackson and their 4,000+ travelling fans proud as they gave Blackburn a good run for their money.Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Huddersfield Town

Wales international striker Craig Bellamy grabbed the first, his first goals for Blackburn, on-loan defender Khizanishvili grabbed one, but Pawel Abbott gave the Premier League side a scare grabbing his 9th goal in 11 games but Craig Bellamy scored his second of the night to put Blackburn into the next round of the Carling Cup.

A poor crowd 11,755 turned up for this 2nd round of the Carling Cup. Most of the travelling Town fans didn?t make it in time for the kick-off and we just sat down at Bellamy scored, as the coaches were caught in heavy traffic on the M62. The organisation of what is a Premiership club was appalling. They had to open the upper tier, as there were too many Town fans.

Town manager Peter Jackson had made a few surprising changes to his start line-up that beat Brentford last Saturday,
Chris Brandon and Gary Taylor-Fletcher were dropped to the bench in place of Junior Mendes on this first start of the season and Andy Booth partnered Pawel Abbott up front for the Terriers. Jon McCombe replaced Tom Clarke who was suspended.
Blackburn fielded a strong side, as boss Mark Hughes wanted no repeat of last years Carling Cup exit by Bournemouth. Craig Bellamy was fully fit, Paul Dickov made his first start of the season along side him, Michael Gray started at left back, on-loan David Bentley stared instead of Pedersen and another Welsh windbag Robbie Savage started in the centre of midfield.

Town weren?t scared of their Premiership opponents and forced a corner after just 6 minutes but Schofield delivery was poor.
And after only 10 minutes, as I virtually just sat down after finding a seat, Bret Emerton stroked the ball ahead of the Welsh windbag Craig Bellamy who paced away into the penalty area to slide the ball underneath Rachubka and into the net, taunting the Town fans has he ran off.

Blackburn was caught offside eight times in the first half, after just scoring Bellamy raced away again but the linesman flag was up.
A long down field kick from Rachubka was flicked on by Booth which found Abbott and before he could strike at goal Lucas Neil was hot on his heels for force the ball out for a corner.

Schofield protested on 19 minutes about a possible handball from a Blackburn player only to receive a yellow card, but Savage did handle the ball on the 22nd minute just outside the penalty area.
Pawel Abbott took the resulting free-kick and was unlucky as the ball flew past the post with keeper Friedel at full stretch.

Rovers defender Nelson glanced a free header wide on 31 minutes from a corner, Abbott then headed wide from a good cross from Holdsworth down the right, Town were giving Blackburn a good run for their money but just lacked that little bit of luck up front but you could tell the difference in football between to the two sides.

Dickov shot straight at Rachubka on 36 minutes after a good build up from Blackburn, Bellamy raced away again and was caught offside and he talked his way into the book with referee Mr Probert for protesting.
The poison dwarf Dickov then was showed a yellow card after putting the ball in the back of the net after the referee?s whistle was gone for offside.
Just before half time Danny Adams made a poor pass back to Rachubka in which Bellamy tried to intercept but Nathan Clarke was there to boot the ball away to safety.

Brandon came on for the ineffective Mendes at half time, Town started off brightly and after a good one-two with Abbott, Worthington fired a dipping shot over the bar from 25 yards out.
But the pace of Bellamy was a constant threat to the Town defence but Town showed true spirit and determination and wouldn?t lie down without a fight.
On 51 minutes Town forced a corner which was flicked on by Booth at the near post for Jon McCombe who headed straight at Brad Friedel.

A good attacking play between Booth and Abbott led a chance for Danny Schofield only to poorly control the ball. The resulting build up from Blackburn was quick and Brandon was booked for a late challenge on Gray. The free-kick was flicked on by Emerton which forced Rachubka to tip the ball wide.
The resulting corner on 60 minutes, was headed in the back of the net by Khizanishvi to put Rovers into a 2-goal lead.

Town were still pressing, Chris Brandon shot wide from an angle, Brandon caused Blackburn a few problems on the attack, when on 67 minutes Emerton received a yellow card for a late challenge on Brandon.
Emerton was then taken off 4 minutes later to be replaced with Pedersen.
Clarke then stopped another Blackburn attack as Town couldn?t handle Blackburn?s pace of the play.

Booth went off to be replaced by Taylor-Fletcher and Schofield was replaced by Mark Hudson back from injury.
And within minutes of the substitutes coming on, Town pulled one back. On 79 minutes Abbott was played a good through ball by Brandon and Town?s top scorer made no mistake and fired a low hard shot past Friedel to send the travelling Town fans wild.

But Bellamy spoiled the fun, in the 83rd minute he raced away from the defence, rounded Rachubka and slid the ball into the back of the net to seal Blackburn were in the next round of the cup.

Blackburn then passed the ball around to waste time but Town still battling on and the Town fans were still singing their hearts out.
In the 3 minutes added on Abbott has a chip at goal tipped over the bar by Friedel.

They did us proud did the players and now we can cheer them on to promotion!

Sean?s star man: Pawel Abbott- Took his goal well and worked hard all game.

Town: Rachubka, Holdsworth, Clarke, McCombe, Adams, Mendes (Brandon 45), Worthington, Carrs, Schofield (Hudson 77), Booth (Taylor-Fletcher 77), Abbott.
Subs not used: Senior, Collins.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Nelson, Khizanishvi, Gray(Mokoena 72), Emerton(Pedersen 72), Savage, Tugay, Bentley, Dickov(Kuqi 82), Bellamy.
Subs not used: Enckelman, Reid.

Attendance: 11,755

Please e-mail me with any comments sean.makin@terrier-bytes.com

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