Blackburn Rovers – Birmingham City

1. It's a battle of the struggling sides at Ewood Park - join us from 16.05 GMT to find out if we'll have a winner

2. A first win of the season for Norwich yesterday left Blackburn at the foot of the Premiership yet a win today would lift them out of the bottom three. Three draws on the bounce after Mark Hughes introduced a new fitness regieme suggests a new found resliliance.

3. If Blackburn are to win they will have to do it without Jon Stead, who picked up an ankle injury against Man City last week, and the suspended Jay Bothroyd. Matt Jansen fills the second striker's position along side Paul Dickov.

4. Birmingham themselves are in trouble and are in the unenviable position of 'boasting' the worst striking record in England - just eight goals from 13 Premiership matches. So the last thing they need is the news that their first choice striker is out with a virus. It's only Emile Heskey anyway, you say? Shame on you.

5. Clinton Morrison, rushed back from injury ahead of schedule, will lead the Blues' line supported by Blackburn born David Dunn, making his first trip to Ewood Park as a visiting player.

6. Blackburn v Birmingham on a frosty, damp November afternoon hardly suggests a classic in the offing but in 'the greatest league in the world' (copyright Sky Sports) you just never know, do you? Well, you probably do. We can but hope.

7. Dunn and Morrison kick off and Friedel gets an early touch of the ball.

8. 2'

   Nice touch from Emerton buys him some room in the middle of a busy centre circle to launch the first meaningful attack of the game but his angled pass is easily cut out.

9. 3'

   A very drab listless opening couple of minutes is shattered with a wonderfully crafted goal for Jansen and Blackburn are one up already.

10. 4'

    A fantastic reverse pass from midfield switched play to the right an exploited the power and pace of Reid. He cut inside and squared to Dickov but the Scot dummied it and the ball instead found Jansen on the edge of the box in space. Great composure and a thunderous shot gave Taylor no chance at all.

11. 6'

    Blackburn bouyed by taking the lead and are really running the game now. Perhaps aware of their attacking shortcomings Birmingham look deflated at the prospect of having to score twice - at least - to win this game now.

12. 7'

    Emerton seeing a lot of the ball. His run and diagonal ball was bound for the onrushing Reid on the right until a timely interception from a sliding Upson.

13. 8'

    Dickov, as ever, a hussling, harrying menace to the Burmingham back line and twice he has forced mistakes from them. Blackburn definitely in control.

14. 9'

    First attack worthy of the name from the visitors. Gronkjaer peels off down the left and sends over a decent looking centre but Todd easily clears ahead of Dunn.

15. 10'

    As you will have possibly gathered by now we are experiencing a few technical problems - it's not apathy or laziness on my part, honest. We have alerted 'the people downstairs with eyes a bit too close together to be trusted/our ESPN IT trouble shooters' and they are trying to sort it out. Sorry about this. Birmingham have equalised through Anderton and, after Blackburn threatening to run away with it, the game is now quite even and open, by the way.

16. 30'

    And we are back - selloptape has been wrapped around a cable somewhere in Seattle and some paper clips attached to some faulty wiring in London I think...David Dunn is gifted oceans of space in the Blackburn box and heads to goal. Neill manages to force him wide enough so that he shoots off balance and well off target.

17. 31'

    End to end stuff without any clear goalscoring chances. Emerton is at the centre of almost everything for Blackburn but his team-mates aren't always on his wavelength. A cute back heel on the edge of the box goes straight to a Blues defender. At least he's trying.

18. 33'

    Dickov goes down under a fair looking Cunningham challenge on the edge of the box before Savage clashes with Reid. Savage is angry, so is Dickov and golden flowing locks and pointy fingers are buzzing around the referee. Free kick to Birmingham and get on with the game lads, eh?

19. 40'

    Great turn and slide rule pass down the right from Ferguson sets Emerton against Gray and he looked to have got the better of him until the impressive Upson comes across to help out his full-back. Emerton eventually penalised for a push.

20. 41'

    Blackburn have completely conceded the initiative they had gained in the opening exchanges. Before Birmingham's first they weren't in the game at all but since then they have given as good as they have got. Blackburn are working down the flanks well but have created little in and around the box. Birmingham by contrast haven't had as much of the ball but have taken their chances.

21. 45'

    Problems persist - never trust a grown man wearing a Star Trek T-shirt when he tells you 'everything is alright now, mate' - but we'll do what we can. I mentioned Birmingham couldn't score but forgot to mention that Blackburn can't stop gifting teams goals - they have the worst defence in the Premiership. After Savage had given Birmingham the lead, Dunn popped up in the box to give them a 3-1 lead that looked improbable after 15 minutes. Big trouble for Sparky here.

22. 45'

    Despite fears of a nothing sort of game, and technical problems at our end, this has been an entertaining match. Blackburn set off at pace with Emerton lively, taking a lead in the first five minutes. Since then Birmingham have found their shooting boots and Anderton, Savage and Dunn have capitalised on some charitable Blackburn defending. Work to be done by the home side here.

23. 45'

    Half-time change for Blackburn as Matt Jansen - obviously not yet fully fit - makes way for Paul Gallagher.

24. 49'

    Fergusson breaks through on goal - he was actually offside but got away with it due to Savage rushing back - and forces a decent one-handed save from Taylor. Justice probably done but a chance went begging for Blackburn to get back into it.

25. 52'

    Crowd urging their side on. Wonderful 40 yard cross field pass from Emerton picks out Gallagher; he cuts back and then flights a delicate ball to the back post that is far too close to the keeper to be dangerous.

26. 53'

    Promising run from Dunn comes to nothing as, a bit head down, he ends up in a lot of Blackburn traffic near the box.

27. 54'

    Crisp passing football from the home side. Pingged pass to Gallagher in the centre followed by great awareness from the youngster to lay it wide to Dickov. He worked his way into the box and got a shot away but it was deflected well wide.

28. 55'

    Substitution for Blackburn sees Tugay go off to be replced by David Thompson.

29. 56'

    More swift attacking play from Blackburn this time ends with a goal from Ried - his first in Blackburn colours.

30. 57'

    Dickov picked up the ball on the half way line out left, span and switched the play well to Thompson. He showed cleverness to lift the ball over Gray and into the path of Reid. Upson burst a lung trying to recover the ground and slid across the Blackburn man as he shot. Unfortunately for him the block he got only served to deflect the ball out of Taylor's reach and into the net. 3-2 and game on.

31. 58'

    Reid again foraging down the right but Gray eqaul to him this time. great tackle.

32. 59'

    Give and go between Emerson and McEveley almost brings some joy down the Blackburn left. Solid tackle from Cunningham though wins his side a goal-kick. Positive from Blackburn.

33. 61'

    Dickov goes to ground under no sort of challenge and brings out his patented confused and wronged expression.

34. 62'

    What a game we have here. Hopeful ball over the top and a combination of Dickov and Gallagher get Blackburn back on level terms. 3-3.

35. 63'

    Massive punt foward allowed Dickov to spin round Cunningham and his persistance resulted in a prod through the arms of Taylor. With defenders and the keeper scrambling back Gallagher nicked in to score from half a yard. Breathless stuff now.

36. 64'

    Short defensive header from Cunningham sits up temptingly for Thompson who has a powerful shot on him. Gets hold of it well but drives it straight at Taylor who holds firm.

37. 65'

    Substitution for Birmingham: Off goes Morrison and on comes Jamie Clapham.

38. 66'

    Dickov did well to spot the run of Gallagher. A through ball slip the defence as the youngster peeled off the last defender but there was too much pace on the ball. Nice idea.

39. 67'

    More fine industry from Dickov who is everywhere at the moment. Fed the ball square to Thompson who helped it on to Reid, 20 yards out dead centre. Fierce drive is well save with a leng to the right from Taylor. Wasn't able to hold on to it but the Birmingham defenders were alert to the danger and mop up.

40. 69'

    High tempo stuff now and it is Blackburn who look the more likely to go on and win this now.

41. 70'

    Birmingham look to work the right hand chanel but Johansson marshals Gray expertly.

42. 71'

    Reid is coming into theis game more now. It is he who powers down the right wing and lays off to Dickov. He was looking for the return and probably should have got it but Dickov instead shot well wide of the target.

43. 72'

    Jeers all around Ewood Park now as Dwight Yorke comes on for Anderton. He isn't popular anywhere he goes these days.

44. 74'

    Great change of pace from Gray out on the left touchline easily gets him past McEveley. His centre forces Savage to stretch behind himself to hook the ball goalwards. Friedel is well beaten but the ball agaonisingly bounces back off the post. Hearts in mouths time for Blackburn.

45. 75'

    Yorke's first contribution to the game is to concede a needless foul for a push. The crowd enjoyed that one.

46. 77'

    Blackburn playing the better football and looking the fitter of the two sides now every time they break.

47. 78'

    Angled flick on from Gallagher evades Emerton but he doesn't give it up and eventually wins it back off Melchiot. Quick one two with McEveley gets him into the box but he disguised lay-off to Dickov was not disguised well enough. Good football.

48. 79'

    Much ado about nothing between Gronkjaer and Reid. At a corner Gronkjaer fell like shot from the stands - reid did give him a tap in the ribs but nothing more. Referee finally gives a diplomatic free-kick to Birmingham and it's all forgoten.

49. 80'

    Final substitution for Birmingham sees Dunn replaced by Stephen Clemence.

50. 81'

    Good chance for Birmingham wasted by gray. Melchiot elected to play a side footed pass rather than sending over a high cross and Gray was in space. But he jabbed at it with his favoured left when a right-footed shot looked the better option and made a proper hash of it.

51. 83'

    Clemence, perhaps not up to speed with the game, is caught in possession by Emerton. Had he been able to thread a better pass to Gallagher he would have been one-on-one with the keeper. He couldn't, though.

52. 84'

    Half-chance for Reid who managed to get his head on a looping cross but was under a lot of pressure from Clapham and was unable to turn it towards the intended target.

53. 85'

    Ferguson released Emerton - those pair have been running things for the home side today - to run at the Birmingham defence. Seemed to want to beat them all twice though and ran down a blind alley.

54. 86'

    Gronkjaer tries to spread the Birmingham attack with a low angled ball for Johnson to chase. Seemed to get there just in time to cross but the linesman rules the ball had crossed the by-line.

55. 88'

    Gray loses possession in Blackburn's right back position allowing the home team to break through Ferguson. plenty of space to work with but no team-mates some the move lost all its momentum.

56. 89'

    Opportunities drying up now despite both team's best efforts. Long ball over the top has Dickov chasing but he was never going to get anywhere near it.

57. 90'

    Real, real chance for Blackburn to have taken the points. through ball from emerton with a glorious step over from Thompson to let the ball run through to Dickov, one-on-one with Taylor. The keeper did well to get out and close down but Dickov will be kicking himself.

58. 90'

    Final whistle goes and a breathless match ends all square. 3-3 your final score.

59. 90'

    An entertaining game that was a credit to both sides commitment and desire - if less their respective defending. Blackburn played the prettier football but once Birmingham got back into it their confidence seemed to drain.

60. 90'

    Whatever Mark Hughes said at the break did the trick because Blackburn came out fighting and did exceptionally well to haul back the defecit. Birmingham had chances themselves and so a draw is probably about right. Blackburn stay bottom but are unbeaten in four; Birmingham, at least, know what it's like to score again.

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