ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP Blackburn Rovers 5 Peterborough 2: SWINE FLU may be the big chat around Blackburn Rovers at the moment, but Steven Reid appeared unaffected in a goal-scoring return to action against Peterborough last night.
Less than three days before Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni names his squad for the World Cup play-offs against France, Reid played 70 minutes for Rovers and scored from the spot on the stroke of half-time before being replaced by David Dunn in a tactical switch.
The run-out will encourage both Sam Allardyce and Trapattoni, but it was Rovers physio Dave Fevre whom Reid sought in the dugout after he hit the net. The two will hopefully be seeing less of each other after Reid departed the field with seemingly no side effects from the Achilles’ injury that has stifled his comeback this season.
The margin of defeat was harsh on Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough, who had goalkeeper Joe Lewis dismissed shortly before half-time, but Blackburn were ultimately ruthless against 10 men.
The visitors were given an immediate hurdle when Morten Gamst Pedersen swept a superb free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards in the fourth minute.
Peterborough deservedly drew level in the 17th minute when the coveted George Boyd won possession in the Rovers area and the full-back Tommy Rowe eventually took over on the left. Rowe sent a cross to the back post and Chris Whelpdale headed across Jason Brown and in via a deflection.
Charlie Lee, the United right-back, was felled by a poor, late and unpunished challenge by Martin Olsson a minute before Peterborough’s equaliser and soldiered on until another blow forced his withdrawal. Lee’s replacement, Russell Martin, was only in the fray for seven minutes when he sent a dreadful header intended for his goalkeeper straight to the feet of Pedersen. Lewis tripped the Norwegian and the referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and produced a red card.
The 10 men did not go quietly. Four minutes after the restart an incisive counter-attack prised open the Rovers defence and enabled Boyd to enhance his reputation with a devastating finish into the top corner from 18 yards.
Michel Salgado put Rovers ahead for a third time when he met Brett Emerton’s lofted pass and beat the substitute goalkeeper, James McKeown.
It was only when Kalinic hit a purple patch that Blackburn’s passage was secured. The young striker produced an outstanding turn on the halfway line before playing Benni McCarthy through for an assured finish. He then scored Rovers’ second penalty after Krystian Pearce handled Olsson’s cross.
Guardian Service
BLACKBURN: Brown, Salgado, Jones, Givet (Nelsen 59), Olsson, Hoilett, Reid (Dunn 70), Emerton (Andrews 77), Pedersen, McCarthy, Kalinic. Subs not used: Robinson, Jacobsen, Roberts, Van Heerden. Booked: Givet.
PETERBOROUGH: Lewis, Lee (Martin 35), Morgan, Pearce, Rowe (Day 77), Whelpdale, Frecklington, Diagouraga, Boyd, Mclean, Batt (McKeown 43). Subs not used: Coutts, Keates, Green, Korentang. Sent off: Lewis (43).
Referee: Anthony Taylor(Cheshire).
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