Blackburn Rovers 2 MyPa-47 0

Last updated : 30 August 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Blackburn Rovers beat MyPa-47 2-0 at Ewood Park to secure a 3-0 aggregate victory and a place in the first round proper of the UEFA Cup.

Rovers welcomed Ryan Nelsen back to the heart of their defence, while Dutch forward Maceo Rigters was handed a start alongside Jason Roberts.

The early minutes were quiet until Roberts came within inches of turning Brett Emerton's cross home, following a superb pass from Tugay.

Aaron Mokoena and Roberts then both tested visiting keeper Janne Korhonen from 20 yards as Rovers upped the tempo, before MyPa managed to gain a foothold in the game.

Just past the half-hour mark David Bentley drove a left-footer narrowly wide, before Rigters dragged a shot across goal after exchanging passes with Roberts.

Korhonen then rescued his side with superb close-range blocks from first Roberts and then Mokoena, who thought he had broken the deadlock as he met a near-post corner.

Three minutes into the second half Rovers got the opener, as Morten Gamst Pedersen drifted the ball in from the left and Bentley smashed home a left-foot volley.

Just before the hour mark Andre Ooijer headed over when well-placed to meet Pedersen's free-kick from the right and the Norwegian went close himself when Korhonen got down well to turn a 25-yard free-kick away from danger.

Three minutes from time the visitors almost got a reward from their hard work, but Brad Friedel stood up well to block Saku Puhakainen's effort.

Then in time added-on, Roberts bundled the ball home from close range after a corner from the left had been helped on by Matt Derbyshire to put a gloss on the final margin of victory.