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| May 4, 2006 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1427 |
Reid sends Blackburn into Europe
BLACKBURN, May 3: Republic of Ireland international midfielder Steven Reid secured Blackburn Rovers a place in next season's UEFA Cup with a first half header that brought Chelsea's title celebrations to an abrupt end as they were at the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat.
Rovers needed just two points to ensure they will finish in sixth spot and their task was made easier by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's decision to make eight changes after his side claimed a second successive Premiership crown with a 3-0 weekend victory over Manchester United.
Such is the depth of Mourinho's squad that even an unfamiliar starting line-up was still bristling with international pedigree and it was confirmation of the huge strides made by Mark Hughes' side that they fully deserved the win that moved them five points ahead of Newcastle with just one game remaining.
Reid's deft, glancing header may have been Blackburn's only reward on an evening when they were seeking revenge for a fractious defeat in the same fixture last season, but with more clinical finishing the result could have been even more convincing.
Hughes cites Mourinho's post-match condemnation of his side's approach as the reason Blackburn acquired a reputation as an overly physical side that took months to shake off.
But having been inspired by the return to full fitness of Craig Bellamy and the addition of David Bentley, and Florent Sinama-Pongolle on loan from Liverpool, Rovers have convincingly re-invented themselves.
With Chelsea's patched-up side failing to gel, Rovers should have been ahead in the 28th minute when Bellamy diverted Michael Gray's left wing cross against the crossbar and Bentley headed the rebound wide from just six yards.
The miss would have proved costly had Eidur Gudjohnsen not sent a left-foot volley crashing against the post seven minutes later but that would prove to be the closest Chelsea came to scoring all night.
And they were unable to recover after Robbie Savage penalised Geremi's needless handball by whipping in a left wing free kick that Reid met with a precise touch at the near post.
Mourinho's selection policy will have certainly caught the eye of England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, anxious about the fitness of each of his key squad members after seeing Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen pick up foot injuries in the past few days.
John Terry was missing after damaging an ankle in the victory over United, but the Swede will have been relieved to learn that midfielder Frank Lampard came through a 90-minute appearance unscathed.—AFP
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