Blackburn Club Focus – FA Cup defeat may be blessing in disguise for Steve Kean
It shows just how far Blackburn Rovers have fallen this season that a victory over Alan Pardew’s high-flying Newcastle United at the Sports Direct Arena in the FA Cup would have come as a major shock to the club’s own fans. Indeed, Steve Kean’s strugglers were on their way to a surprising win and a rare clean-sheet against the Magpies at the weekend, thanks to David Goodwillie’s 35th minute short-range strike – his second goal in as many games. But French attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa scored a sensational solo goal to level the scores before Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez sent the visitors packing with a brilliant injury-time winner.
However, some Rovers fans are happy with the outcome and particularly thankful that their side did not hold out for a replay. To them, Premier League survival is the biggest priority at Ewood Park and a replay or indeed even progression to the next round would have hindered Rovers’ chances of survival. After all, Steve Kean’s squad is already thin on the ground and with the Lancashire outfit yet to make any moves in the transfer window, some suggest that they simply do not have a strong enough squad to fight on both fronts.
Kean has key defenders out injured, including Scott Dann and Ryan Nelsen, while both Martin Olsson and Gael Givet have recently come back from fitness problems. In addition to this, experienced stars Jason Roberts and Michel Salgado have been dropped altogether due to contractual issues. Star man Junior Hoilett, who is expected to move away from Ewood Park this month, is also currently injured, as is first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
An additional game in the FA Cup would have provided further opportunity for luckless Rovers to lose even more players through injury. Gutierrez’s cruel winner could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Rovers and fans will be far more delighted if their side, who currently sit at the bottom of the table, manage to survive in the Premier League.
But in order to do so, it is essential that Rovers keep hold of inspirational skipper Chris Samba during this transfer window. The towering Congolese centre-half was rested for the recent Cup clash, but this has fuelled speculation that he may be on the move. Queens Park Rangers, who parted company with manager Neil Warnock on Sunday, did make a £5m offer for Samba last week, but this was rejected by Rovers. However, if a bigger club such as Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur show solid interest, then Kean’s star player may well have to be sacrificed.
With owners Venky’s yet to splash any cash this month and strong rumours that they may have to sell players before Kean can bring in any fresh faces, this promises to be an interesting few weeks at Ewood Park. But with Rovers now out of the FA Cup, the owners will be hoping that the manager they have shown so much faith in can guide their team out of the drop-zone.
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