Blackburn hand Leeds a lesson as Emerton shines
By Tim Rich
(Filed: 26/10/2005)
Telegraph
Blackburn (0) 3 Leeds (0) 0
It is a sign of how reputations can dwindle that when Sir Bobby Robson failed to sign Brett Emerton many around St James' Park considered this a grievous error.
However, since choosing Blackburn over Newcastle, the Australian has seldom displayed the touch that made him such a force with Feyenoord to the extent he is no longer a regular starter at Ewood Park. The way he drove home his shot to help give Blackburn a safe passage through a potentially awkward Carling Cup tie ought to have given his backers considerable comfort.
The move that set it up was as attractive as the majority of the tie had been insipid - a direct run from Morten Gamst Pedersen, a slick pass to Craig Bellamy, who fed Emerton with decisive results.
Having come on as a substitute, Bellamy, who set up all three goals, provided the impetus the tie required, and which Leeds never looked like being able to resist. His second assist came with a classic low cross from the byline that Paul Dickov, timing his run impeccably, sent crashing home.
Leeds, who might have crossed the Pennines scenting an upset, were in truth never close to overturning the odds and their night was compounded when Gylfi Einarsson was dismissed for a dreadful two-footed lunge at Robbie Savage. The Icelander had already been booked but referee Chris Foy showed him a straight red with a few minutes remaining and the result decided.
Moments later, Leeds, who by now had lost all semblance of composure, failed to cut out another straightforward ball from Bellamy which Lucas Neill stroked past Neil Sullivan with more composure than most full-backs.
Most Championship sides use these games in part to gauge how they might do in a higher division. Under those conditions, Leeds, despite their recent string of fine results under Kevin Blackwell, are not yet ready to bridge the chasm that separates their division from the Premiership. Had Pedersen and Andy Todd managed to better direct relatively straightforward headers, Blackburn would have won by five.
For Mark Hughes, the point of any cup has always been to win it and the Blackburn manager resisted the temptation to field an under-strength side in a competition the club had won three years ago. "A cup tie, be it the Carling Cup or the FA Cup, is never a low priority or inconvenient," he said. "To the contrary, it's something to get excited about."
The trouble was few in Blackburn, a town that has too often been apathetic about its football, shared Hughes' passion for the fixture. There were as many supporters from Yorkshire, but for whose chanting the first half would have been played out in near silence, as there were home fans facing them.
The Blackburn weather was true to form and given the slipperiness of the pitch and the fragility of Craig Bellamy's hamstring, Hughes was probably wise not to start with his leading striker. However, the tie screamed out for the Welshman's direct running and after 52 desultory minutes Bellamy was introduced.
Blackburn's best first-half work came as Brett Emerton and Shefki Kuqi tried to work their way round the Leeds back four. However, the final ball lacked any real quality and, when Emerton did find a decent pull-back, Dickov scuffed his shot into the seats. Generally, Blackburn's clearest opportunities were from set-pieces.
Savage, who seemed to relish the conditions, forced Neil Sullivan to tip a dipping free kick into the phalanx of his own supporters behind his goal while a corner from Pedersen found Andy Todd lurking unmarked at the far post. The Blackburn captain, however, headed it tamely against an advertising hoarding.Leeds had fewer obvious chances. Their passing was neat enough but it was easy to see how Savage and Tugay might out-muscle Blackwell's attractive side in midfield, where the loss of the suspended Shaun Derry was badly felt. Until the match reached its climax it was hard to see Leeds mustering a shot, much less a goal.
By Tim Rich
(Filed: 26/10/2005)
Telegraph
Blackburn (0) 3 Leeds (0) 0
It is a sign of how reputations can dwindle that when Sir Bobby Robson failed to sign Brett Emerton many around St James' Park considered this a grievous error.
However, since choosing Blackburn over Newcastle, the Australian has seldom displayed the touch that made him such a force with Feyenoord to the extent he is no longer a regular starter at Ewood Park. The way he drove home his shot to help give Blackburn a safe passage through a potentially awkward Carling Cup tie ought to have given his backers considerable comfort.
The move that set it up was as attractive as the majority of the tie had been insipid - a direct run from Morten Gamst Pedersen, a slick pass to Craig Bellamy, who fed Emerton with decisive results.
Having come on as a substitute, Bellamy, who set up all three goals, provided the impetus the tie required, and which Leeds never looked like being able to resist. His second assist came with a classic low cross from the byline that Paul Dickov, timing his run impeccably, sent crashing home.
Leeds, who might have crossed the Pennines scenting an upset, were in truth never close to overturning the odds and their night was compounded when Gylfi Einarsson was dismissed for a dreadful two-footed lunge at Robbie Savage. The Icelander had already been booked but referee Chris Foy showed him a straight red with a few minutes remaining and the result decided.
Moments later, Leeds, who by now had lost all semblance of composure, failed to cut out another straightforward ball from Bellamy which Lucas Neill stroked past Neil Sullivan with more composure than most full-backs.
Most Championship sides use these games in part to gauge how they might do in a higher division. Under those conditions, Leeds, despite their recent string of fine results under Kevin Blackwell, are not yet ready to bridge the chasm that separates their division from the Premiership. Had Pedersen and Andy Todd managed to better direct relatively straightforward headers, Blackburn would have won by five.
For Mark Hughes, the point of any cup has always been to win it and the Blackburn manager resisted the temptation to field an under-strength side in a competition the club had won three years ago. "A cup tie, be it the Carling Cup or the FA Cup, is never a low priority or inconvenient," he said. "To the contrary, it's something to get excited about."
The trouble was few in Blackburn, a town that has too often been apathetic about its football, shared Hughes' passion for the fixture. There were as many supporters from Yorkshire, but for whose chanting the first half would have been played out in near silence, as there were home fans facing them.
The Blackburn weather was true to form and given the slipperiness of the pitch and the fragility of Craig Bellamy's hamstring, Hughes was probably wise not to start with his leading striker. However, the tie screamed out for the Welshman's direct running and after 52 desultory minutes Bellamy was introduced.
Blackburn's best first-half work came as Brett Emerton and Shefki Kuqi tried to work their way round the Leeds back four. However, the final ball lacked any real quality and, when Emerton did find a decent pull-back, Dickov scuffed his shot into the seats. Generally, Blackburn's clearest opportunities were from set-pieces.
Savage, who seemed to relish the conditions, forced Neil Sullivan to tip a dipping free kick into the phalanx of his own supporters behind his goal while a corner from Pedersen found Andy Todd lurking unmarked at the far post. The Blackburn captain, however, headed it tamely against an advertising hoarding.Leeds had fewer obvious chances. Their passing was neat enough but it was easy to see how Savage and Tugay might out-muscle Blackwell's attractive side in midfield, where the loss of the suspended Shaun Derry was badly felt. Until the match reached its climax it was hard to see Leeds mustering a shot, much less a goal.