Blackburn 3 Bournemouth 3 (Bournemouth Win On Penalties)

Last updated : 23 September 2004 By Footymad Previewer

On a night of high excitement the Cherries won through 7-6 in a penalty shootout that went to sudden death, central defender Eddie Howe having the job of securing a glorious victory with the telling penalty almost an hour after the end of normal time.

Blackburn made nine changes from the team which recorded their first Premiership win of the season against Portsmouth on Saturday and it looked as though Rovers would coast through when Brett Emerton gave them a seventh minute lead after Matt Jansen's shot had been half saved by Neil Moss.

But Bournemouth, not for the last time, proved themselves up to the challenge and drew level with a well struck volley from Gareth O'Connor in the 12th minute.

Blackburn totally bossed the first half, creating and wasting a succession of chances while Lorenzo Amoruso was unfortunate to see a shot from close range bounce back off the crossbar.

The trend continued in the second half with Rovers very much the attacking force and Saturday's hero Jansen just couldn't repeat the feat, three times missing out when he really should have scored.

Bournemouth, forced to defend for the most part, suddenly got a whiff of success in their nostrils when Karl Broadhurst headed home a cross from Warren Cummings just eight minutes from time.

Bournemouth's hopes of a giantkilling act faded when Morten Gamst Pedersen equalised for Rovers in injury time and almost disappeared altogether when Paul Gallagher smashed home a pass from Emerton two minutes into extra-time to put Rovers on course.

Sloppy defending from the home side however allowed John Spicer to equalise with just five minutes remaining and a memorable night moved into a shootout.

Derek Holmes of Bournemouth was the first to falter, but Jonathan Stead shot wide for Blackburn to leave the tie on a knife-edge.

It went into sudden death and when Blackburn captain Tugay contrived to blast the ball high and wide, it was left to Howe to show him how to do it and earn Bournemouth a deserved place in round three.