Rovers get a reminder of good old days
IT WILL be 20 years next month since Blackburn enjoyed the greatest day in their history.
That sunny May afternoon in 1995 when Jack Walker, Rovers’ late former benefactor, had tears in his eyes as Tim Sherwood lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfi eld.
In those days, thanks to Uncle Jack’s millions, Rovers were the big spenders, underlined by Alan Shearer’s decision to reject Sir Alex Ferguson’s overtures to join Manchester United and opt for Kenny Dalglish’s revolution at Ewood Park.
Sadly, the memorable occasions have been few and far between in recent times, especially since Rovers dropped out of the Premier League three years ago.
Frequent managerial changes and discontent with the club’s controversial Indian owners the Venkys, have tended to cast a gloomy shadow over Blackburn. But last night there was a reminder of the good old days and confi rmation the fans are falling back in love with the club under Gary Bowyer’s calm, understated style of management.
It is thanks largely to him and his players that
the protests against the Venkys have subsided and the focus has been on getting behind the team again.
Although safe in 10th place, Rovers are 14 points off the Championship play- off places, so last night was their big chance of a day out at Wembley – and their early resilience in the face of Liverpool’s pressure was impressive.
The fi rst sell- out since Manchester United’s visit in May 2011 turned up to see if Rovers could add the scalp of Brendan Rodgers’ depleted team to those of Swansea and Stoke in earlier rounds and secure a fi rst semi- fi nal appearance since 2007. Even Chris Sutton – the other half of the famous SAS strike partnership with Shearer – was back as a pundit for BT Sport last night.
There was also Tony Parks, so often the man called in to put out the fi res after managerial upheavals. He was in charge when Rovers knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup at Anfi eld in 2000.
It is somewhat ironic that after all the big- spending days of the early Nineties, Rovers should now be operating a transfer embargo because of breaches in fi nancial rules. Bowyer joked that it was a toss- up between the kitman or laundry woman to fi ll his bench, such have been his injury problems.
Josh King – hat- trick hero of the 4- 1 win over Stoke in the last round – was ruled out, while Rudy Gestede, who proved such a handful at in the fi rst game at Anfi eld, was only fi t enough to come on after the hour mark.
However, the efforts of the players he sent out were appreciated by the fans as Rovers went toe to toe with their Premier League opponents, even if the fi nal outcome was not as they had hoped, as Liverpool booked their place in the semi- fi nal.