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Blackburn Rovers v Chester City,Saturday 6th January 2001
FA Cup Third Round
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 V 0 CHESTER CITY att:15,223
Taylor (72), Bent (84)
Heroic City performance isn't quite good enough as Blackburn's all stars rock the blues with two late goals.
It was a game that left you coming away thinking "if only". "If only" the referee had allowed Steve Whitehall`s goal just minutes before Blackburn scored, "if only" we could have put one of our hatful of chances away in between Blackburn's two goals,"If only" we could play like this in the league and "if only" those 4000 so called City fans could turn up at Conference home games week in week out. But forgetting the "if only's" this was a cracking performance both on and off the pitch. The kick-off had to be delayed to let the hords of City fans in and when they where all in they created an electric atmosphere.Filling most of the upper and lower tiers of Blackburn's Darwin Stand the City faithful got behind the blues like never before and the lads responded on the pitch with a fantastic performance which at least deserved a replay against Blackburn's all star team.
Everyone knew it was important for the blues not to concede an early goal which would have caused a few heads to drop and luckily Blackburn didn't cause City much trouble in the early encounters. It was City themselves who where looking to get forward and get an early goal, Matt Doughty tryed a couple of his teasing runs at the Rovers defence, once setting up Paul Carden who hit his shot over the bar but it was Rovers who came closest to scoring in the first period when Craig Hignett crashed his shot against the post following some good build up work. Rovers went close again just before half time when Paul Beesley gave away a needless corner following a mix up between himself and Wayne Brown in the City goal. From the resulting corner Neil Fisher nearly headed the ball into his own net following pressure from Matt Jansen at the far post. City also gained their first corner of the game just before the break when Mark Beesley`s cross-shot was deflected out of play but the corner resulted in an easy clearance for the Blackburn defence and at half time the blues went in 0-0 to the huge satisfaction of City faithful.
The second half came and many now expected Blackburn to come out all guns blazing following a half time telling off by Mr Souness but the City held their own. Blackburn's David Dunn tryed to squirm his way into the penalty area but to no avail whilst Greame Souness decided that it was time to bring some of his big guns on. Marcus Bent was let into the fray on 58 minutes and looked quite a handfull for the City defence whilst Matt Doughty had to go off for Chester following a niggle to his hamstring and was replaced by Darren Moss. Bent had a couple of good efforts whilst at the other end Steve Whitehall missed a header and it was Whitehall himself who thought he had given City the lead moments later. City won their second corner of the game which was floated in to the far post where it was met by Paul Beesley who nodded it down to Steve Whitehall who had time on his hands to slot it into the empty net and to the send the blue army wild. It wasn't to be though as the referee ruled it out for a so called push and this was to be one of two costly decisions for the blues by the referee over the remaining minutes. Blackburn went straight down the other end following the blues attack and struck their first blow. City where slow to clear their lines and Alan Mahon crossed a teasing ball into the area which was met by Blackburn striker Taylor in the area who nodded it past Brown. Now City supporters and many punters expected there to be a goal rush as Blackburn gained confidence whilst Greame Souness brought Mark Hughes into the game. City stuck at it though and had several chances which could and perhaps should have been put away. Darren Wright came on and instantly was given a golden chance to level matters when he found himself free in the area following a Darren Moss cross but his header was aimed straight at Brad Friedel. Whitehall hit a rasping shot which Friedel couldn`t hold onto whilst Mark Beesley falshed a shot across the goal when he should have scored or at least worked the keeper. But it was all over on 84 minutes when Marcus Bent connected to a very dubious free kick given by the referee which ended the contest to the relief of everybody connected with Blackburn Rovers. The game finished 2-0 and the Chester went off to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters and should be proud of themselves for a fantastic days work and left City supporters proud of their team.
You have to ask yourself why they can't perform like this in the league though but perhaps now with the FA Cup no longer on their minds they may start performing whilst it should be interesting to see how many of those 4,000 at Ewood Park will be at the Deva on Saturday for City's FA Trophy Third Round game with Doncaster.
Man Of The Match : Andy Porter was outstanding in midfield and battled all afternoon
Chester:Brown,Fisher,Doughty,Lancaster,Ruffer,P.Beesley,Blackburn,Carden,Porter,M.Beesley,Whitehall,
Subs Used: Wright,Woods
Blackburn:Friedel,Curtis,McAteer,Bjornebe,Taylor,Dunn,Mahon,Dunning,Hignett,Jansen,Ostenstad
Subs Used: Highes,Bent,Douglas
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