Blackburn Rovers vs Birmingham City

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 90'

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 80'

    Final substitution for Birmingham sees Dunn replaced by Stephen Clemence.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 77'

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

16. 75'

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

17. 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.

18. 72'

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

19. 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.

20. 70'

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

21. 69'

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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 65'

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

25. 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.

Leaders

BLKBIR

Total Shots

Paul Dickov

5

Damien Johnson

2

Saves

Brad Friedel

1

Maik Taylor

7