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SUNDAY TIMES
Blackburn 3 QPR 0: QPR lack magic touchPete Oliver at Ewood Park
A SUBLIME goal from Craig Bellamy apart, the magic of the Cup gave Ewood Park a wide berth as Blackburn cantered into the fourth round by making full use of a draw that, given Rangers’ recent track record in the competition, is almost akin to a bye.
The Championship side was never totally outclassed but equally barely threatened to cause a minor shock against last season’s semi-finalists and secure a first win in the competition since January 2001. Since then Rangers have fallen at their first hurdle every time and in seven ties subsequent to beating Luton Town five years ago have scored just one goal — which was not enough even to beat Vauxhall Motors.
They had early chances here but, perhaps predictably, fluffed them and were out of the tie by half-time thanks to goals from Andy Todd and a wonderfully executed volley from Bellamy, which allowed Blackburn to ease off in readiness for their Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
A number of their fans also saved themselves for midweek, with barely more than 10,000 home supporters paying out for a game which underlined Blackburn’s current well-being, epitomised by Bellamy’s ninth goal of the season four minutes from time as he coolly converted a pass from 19-year-old debutant Sergio Peter.
“It was a good performance, a good result and we were able to rest some important players and give some football to players who needed it,” said Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, who described a fifth straight win as ideal preparation for the visit of his former club.
Rangers manager Ian Holloway was left to lament missed opportunities. “It’s just chances, and we had two clear ones before they scored,” he said. “I felt we lost some confidence and showed them too much respect. But how we lost the second half I’m not sure.”
Todd was the beneficiary of absent marking as he headed home Peter’s corner after Simon Royce had saved from Paul Dickov, and 20 minutes later the contest was all but over when Bellamy connected with a Peter cross to steer a crisp left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net from 16 yards.
Substitute Gareth Ainsworth, rejected as a youngster by his hometown club of Blackburn, sparked something of a Rangers revival after the break but Rovers were content to sit on their lead and look for a third on the counter-attack, a ploy which finally worked when Peter released Bellamy for another assured finish.
STAR MAN: Craig Bellamy (Blackburn)
Player ratings. Blackburn: Friedel 6, Neill 8, Todd 6, Khizanishvili 6, Matteo 6, Thompson 6, Savage 7 (Pedersen 77min, 6), Tugay 7, Peter 8, Dickov 6 (Kuqi 77min, 6), Bellamy 9
QPR: Royce 6, Bignot 5, Shittu 5, Rose 5, Milanese 6, Rowlands 5, Santos 5 (Ainsworth 55min, 7), Langley 6, Cook 5 (Donnelly 75min, 6), Baidoo 6, Furlong 5 (Moore 75min, 6) Scorers: Blackburn: Todd 17, Bellamy 36, Bellamy 86
Referee: A Marriner
Attendance: 12,705 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-1975012,00.html