Boss Appleton dedicates Cup win to Rovers’ travelling army
7:43am Monday 18th February 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
MICHAEL Appleton insists Blackburn Rovers’ memorable FA Cup triumph at Arsenal was “for the fans” as they moved into the FA Cup quarter finals.
The Rovers boss masterminded a famous Emirates Stadium triumph on Saturday and immediately dedicated the win to the blue and white army.
Colin Kazim-Richards was the match-winner, with a second half strike, as 1,400 travelling fans celebrated a moment to remember.
Appleton said: “All credit to the fans.
“Days like this are about the fans, they will go back to Blackburn absolutely buzzing and rightly so because they played their part in what was a manful performance from everyone.
“We are in the next round and will look forward to Tuesday.”
Arsenal dominated possession for much of the fifth round tie but, with Rovers defending solidly throughout, the Gunners struggled to break Appleton’s men down.
Rovers have now not conceded a goal from open play in more than nine hours of football, as Appleton continues to make his mark.
He said: “The place is booming in the dressing room.
“I thought we got what we deserved, I thought we soaked up a lot of pressure, we had to respect the opposition.
“We defended manfully and got a little bit of luck when we needed it. I openly admitted we work really hard on defending in training, we work on our shape a lot as it is important to make sure you are hard to beat before you start going a little gun-ho.
“I think we are getting to a point where the players understand what I want from them out of possession. If we can add to that with a little bit of quality and a little bit of composure then we will be a match for most teams.”
Lee Williamson was handed his Rovers debut in the centre of midfield, with Danny Murphy rested, while loan signing David Bentley was handed a second half cameo.
“It might have raised a few eyebrows signing Lee with some but he is a top, top player, can play many positions and I thought he was excellent,” said Appleton.
“David has fantastic quality and good feet and we will get him up to scratch and match fitness.
“He has not played for a while, “I had a feeling. I said to the staff on Friday night, I think they will all back me up, I had a really good feeling about the game.
“Kaz was trying to make sure that he got over the ball for the goal.
“He got his little bit of luck, it wasn’t his greatest finish but I’m sure one of the most crucial.
“It gives us lots of confidence but I don’t think there has been any problems in terms of belief.
“We just have to make sure we are able to switch our minds to the league now,.
“We had a few players who weren’t able to play, there is a nice mix and we have some big games coming up.”
Comments(21)
French Blue&White
says...
8:39am Mon 18 Feb 13
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!
hasslem hasslem
says...
8:40am Mon 18 Feb 13
a long way to go yet - but appleton has shone a light in the darkness. long may it continue.
onwards and upwards!
drunken donut
says...
8:52am Mon 18 Feb 13
A Darener wrote:Suggest you read it again, this time with your eyes OPEN.
Rovers have now not created a goal from open play in more than nine hours of football, as Appleton continues to make his mark.
Sloppy journalism...I think he means "conceded" not "created". They obviously "created" a goal on Saturday!
jackmetickler
says...
8:55am Mon 18 Feb 13
spent the after match in the Arsenal pub down the road .... fair play to them they didnt winge too much about Rovers defending for most of the game .... but their was a distinct Wengers time coming to an end... mad.
mind you if I never hear that
oh RVP song again it will be too soon..
couldnt bring myself to sing that one....
cmon hes a manc now !!
Well done MA and the boys...
things starting to look up now and we starting to get that buzz back...
looking forward to playing the Dingles now as I wasnt a few weeks ago.
CMON you blues.
jackmetickler
says...
8:56am Mon 18 Feb 13
drunken donut wrote:they re-edited mate!
A Darener wrote: Rovers have now not created a goal from open play in more than nine hours of football, as Appleton continues to make his mark. Sloppy journalism...I think he means "conceded" not "created". They obviously "created" a goal on Saturday!Suggest you read it again, this time with your eyes OPEN.
It originally said that!
Road Runner Road Runner
says...
8:59am Mon 18 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem wrote:Spot on Hass.
appleton - says the right thing, does the right thing.....already said many times before - - - but how refreshing it is to have a manager that knows what he is doing and treats the fans and the club with a bit of respect.
a long way to go yet - but appleton has shone a light in the darkness. long may it continue.
onwards and upwards!
Arte et labore
leitchy
says...
9:43am Mon 18 Feb 13
COYB !!
A Darener
says...
9:57am Mon 18 Feb 13
drunken donut wrote:My eyes were open it has been corrected.
A Darener wrote:Suggest you read it again, this time with your eyes OPEN.
Rovers have now not created a goal from open play in more than nine hours of football, as Appleton continues to make his mark.
Sloppy journalism...I think he means "conceded" not "created". They obviously "created" a goal on Saturday!
Riverside 7
says...
10:12am Mon 18 Feb 13
If we can get something at Hull tomorrow night then there could be 20,000 at Ewood for the Leeds game on Saturday.
Tamworth rover
says...
10:33am Mon 18 Feb 13
Riverside 7 wrote:Lets hope so, Could be a very exciting few months for us.
A great win at Arsenal.
If we can get something at Hull tomorrow night then there could be 20,000 at Ewood for the Leeds game on Saturday.
All the stay aways and haters will soon be back too with there tails between there legs.
A Darener
says...
10:54am Mon 18 Feb 13
Tamworth rover wrote:They may be back, but NOT with their tail between their legs. Like it or not the stay aways had a major influence in the change of tack at the club. I believe that and so do many more fans. The Venky's finally seemed to get the message and thankfully acted upon GOOD advice for a change. We have seen the seeds of hope sown. If we get a good result tomorrow it will confirm the growing belief that the good times can return to the club. The feel good factor can only get better. Long may it continue.
Riverside 7 wrote:Lets hope so, Could be a very exciting few months for us.
A great win at Arsenal.
If we can get something at Hull tomorrow night then there could be 20,000 at Ewood for the Leeds game on Saturday.
All the stay aways and haters will soon be back too with there tails between there legs.
sean_brfc
says...
11:01am Mon 18 Feb 13
A Darener wrote:Who cares what it says?
drunken donut wrote:My eyes were open it has been corrected.
A Darener wrote:Suggest you read it again, this time with your eyes OPEN.
Rovers have now not created a goal from open play in more than nine hours of football, as Appleton continues to make his mark.
Sloppy journalism...I think he means "conceded" not "created". They obviously "created" a goal on Saturday!
We beat Arsenal at the Emirates!
AndyW
says...
12:47pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Tamworth rover wrote:Between where legs?
Riverside 7 wrote:Lets hope so, Could be a very exciting few months for us.
A great win at Arsenal.
If we can get something at Hull tomorrow night then there could be 20,000 at Ewood for the Leeds game on Saturday.
All the stay aways and haters will soon be back too with there tails between there legs.
Doesn't make sense.
bluerob
says...
4:33pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Tamworth rover wrote:They will all be welcome back, you cant argue with anyone who decided to stay away, I know from many friends they all had their individual reasons.
Riverside 7 wrote:Lets hope so, Could be a very exciting few months for us.
A great win at Arsenal.
If we can get something at Hull tomorrow night then there could be 20,000 at Ewood for the Leeds game on Saturday.
All the stay aways and haters will soon be back too with there tails between there legs.
It's time to forget all the divisions now and support the team and the manager, let's just hope we can dig ourselves out of the terrible black hole we have been in since the Venkys took over.
A Darener
says...
7:01pm Mon 18 Feb 13
icannotrace
says...
7:04pm Mon 18 Feb 13
modan wrote:Why are you going on about India where the rich are filthy rich and the majority live in squalor?
Great win against Arsenal and we go down to the Dell and should beat the hell out of them.
"India is the second fastest growing economy in the world and will have the third largest economy by 2025" .India is the second largest investor in UK and invested over £24 Billion in 2012.
Cameron in India today in Mumbai and Delhi tomorrow.
www india skyscrapercity.com "india has emerged" Obama president of USA
.
Why don't you go back there if it's that good?
jogalot
says...
7:40pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Cryer: Some words you might use instead of 'insists'.
asserts, contends, holds, maintains, swears, urges, alleges, believes, challenges, declares, postulates, professes, pronounces, affirms, claims, dictates, says, advocates, argues, proclaims, propounds, states, stresses.
A thesaurus will also give alternatives for 'is adamant'.
French Rover
says...
7:47pm Mon 18 Feb 13
Tamworth rover wrote:nowt wrong with a bit of tail mon brave...
Riverside 7 wrote:Lets hope so, Could be a very exciting few months for us.
A great win at Arsenal.
If we can get something at Hull tomorrow night then there could be 20,000 at Ewood for the Leeds game on Saturday.
All the stay aways and haters will soon be back too with there tails between there legs.
hasslem hasslem
says...
8:17pm Mon 18 Feb 13
jogalot wrote:what's another word for thesaurus?
Well, it's all fantastic, unbelievable! Appy's doing a great job and seems to be bringing the best out of the players. Last time I saw Bentley play was for England when he was man of the match and looked like he'd make right wing his own. But he didn't play again. I suppose it went to his head or something and he said something. Whatever. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that he could get that form back again under a good manager.
Cryer: Some words you might use instead of 'insists'.
asserts, contends, holds, maintains, swears, urges, alleges, believes, challenges, declares, postulates, professes, pronounces, affirms, claims, dictates, says, advocates, argues, proclaims, propounds, states, stresses.
A thesaurus will also give alternatives for 'is adamant'.
MatthewCA
says...
6:15am Tue 19 Feb 13
After a long time we got a chance to show case our players caliber to win matches. It is truly the courage and commitment of our Stopper Kean and defenders. So those 5 men in the ground are getting good grip and belief “ they are the best”.
I feel this momentum should continue with championship games and keep the position strong in the table.
Good Luck for Hull match.
A Darener says...
8:00am Mon 18 Feb 13
Sloppy journalism...I think he means "conceded" not "created". They obviously "created" a goal on Saturday!