Brown's Blackburn Rovers dream ruined by referee

4:07pm Monday 6th October 2008

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By Andy Cryer »

ROVERS goalkeeper Jason Brown admits playing against Manchester United's world-class stars was a ‘dream come true’ – but insists the champions’ ‘dodgy’ opener was a match-turner.

The former Gillingham stopper was elbowed by Nemanja Vidic, allowing Wes Brown to head home United’s opener, and from there the result never looked in doubt as Alex Ferguson’s men turned on the style.

Brown, who later performed heroics to keep the score down on only his second ever Premier League start, insists Steve Bennett’s mistake can’t be used as an excuse for the defeat but does believe it played a key role in the outcome of the match.

He said: “The ball came across and came quite close to me so I thought let’s help out the defenders. I went up and the next thing I know an elbow went into my jaw and the ball is in the back of the net.

“They are running away celebrating and I looked and was thinking ‘is he going to give it? And he didn’t.

“I was a bit puzzled at the time because there were a couple of bodies there, I wasn’t sure if it was one of my own players but the replay afterwards showed Vidic clearly elbowed me in the jaw. My hands were a good foot above Wes Brown.

“I don’t want to rest on the referee’s decision but if we went in 0-0, even though we were not playing particularly great, it becomes different and we have a chance.

“They are desperate for the points and would have started to take more risks which would have opened the game up for us.”

Having had to patiently bide his time in reserve team football, with first Brad Friedel and then Paul Robinson number one, Brown was determined to ensure he seized his chance offered by Robinson’s calf injury.

An early start through nerves was not about to spoil his day though, and collecting Ronaldo’s shirt as a souvenir at the end will ensure he remembers the moment.

“At 5am it crossed my mind,” he said. “I remember watching Sky and thinking Rooney is doubtful so they will just bring in Berbatov and Tevez.

“It is fantastic playing against these players. It is every kid’s dream to be playing against players like that.

“Man United are a fantastic side. Playing against these teams, this is what I work hard for and what I put the extra hours in after training.

“I suppose they do even themselves out in the season though. It was not just down to one decision but it comes back to the same old thing ‘bigger clubs get the decisions when they need them.”

Boss Paul Ince was quick to hail Brown’s performance and admitted he has given him another selection headache upon Robinson’s return from injury.

Ince said: “He was outstanding. It was a shame about the first goal because the save he made before their goal was world class.

“He deserves a pat on the back because he’s been phenomenal in the last two games. I’ve got a decision to make now about whether to stick with him or bring Paul Robinson back.

“I just felt we showed them too much respect. For the first 15 minutes we went out and had a go at them but then we were under the cosh and subconsciously started to retreat.

“They played at their own tempo and when you allow the top sides to do that you’re going to get punished.

“I’m not going to make a mountain out of molehill, though, because they are one of the best teams in Europe, if not the best, and we’ve got to concentrate on winning the games at Bolton and things like that.

“You can spend all week, as I have done, discussing tactics and personnel and I probably thought about playing 20,000 different teams, but at the end of the day when a team is that good, sometimes you can’t do anything about it.”