Mowbray slams Rovers flops

ForMer Premier League champions Blackburn were told to wake up by boss Tony Mowbray after sliding to a 2-1 defeat at Southend. The 1995 winners were second best through most of the match and Mowbray said: ‘It was always going to be tough here but this was a wake-up call for us. This division is fast and intense and if you don’t deal with it then you’ll be in trouble.’ CHArLTon striker Lee novak suffered the indignity of being the first player sent off this season after a reckless tackle on BrISToL roVerS’ Stuart Sinclair in the sixth minute. But Patrick Bauer managed to secure a 1-0 win for the home side with a header from a 38thminute free-kick that both managers admitted did not actually cross the line. PorTSMoUTH turned on the style for their new owner, former disney chief executive Michael eisner, with a 2-0 win over roCHdALe. Club captain Brett Pitman, making his debut after a summer move from Ipswich, ensured Pompey had a winning return to League one in front of eisner with a second-half double.