Early Morning Rumblings
We all need something fast to alleviate the gloom of the Portsmouth match and a win tonight, which would put us in the last eight of a cup competition, would definitely help. A win on Saturday against the same side would suit me better but one thing at a time. Our performance in the last round against the Cobblers was our most disappointing of the season and Keane will no doubt be trying to get his team right for tonight’s encounter. Kenwyne is out but otherwise we should field a full strength side.

The Match
By the time I got home and got tuned into Century Radio the game had begun but I was delighted to see Kenwyne in the team, alongside Cisse. It would be great to get a double somersault together but watch those knees, Kenwyne son. We started positively and young Henderson was getting some early praise. Ominously the word ‘scintillating’ was being used by the commentator again and as if on cue Blackburn proceeded to take over the game after we’d dominated the first fifteen minutes. Around the half-hour mark we had our best chance when Robinson saved well after a good Collins header from a corner and a minute or two later he did even better to turn a Kenwyne header onto a post. We got right back into it and had the best of the rest of the half, clocking up seven corners but without finding the net. 0-0 at the break and I could smell extra-time.

There were no changes for us at the break and we continued to press more with Richardson hitting a free-kick just over after around ten minutes in. Around the hour-mark Blackburn brought on Santa Cruz, which made my heart sink a bit, and sure enough two minutes later he headed Blackburn one up. Kenwyne had the ball in the net shortly afterwards but it was ruled out. Phil Bardsley put into his own net after seventy minutes, Reid came on for Malbranque and then Kenwyne got one back all within a minute or two and the crowd finally came to life. With ten minutes left Murphy and Leadbitter replaced Kenwyne and young Jordan, who’d done well on his full debut. I felt we could get one back… The smallish crowd were doing their best to get behind the team and with three minutes of added time I was on the edge of my settee but it wasn’t to be. A similar story to last Saturday really, with us dominating the first half but not being able to take advantage. Roll on this Saturday.

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