Blackburn Rovers (1) v West Bromwich Albion (1)

Its Party Time
By Stuart Kidson
May 3 2003

The Barmy Army hit Blackburn this weekend and turned the Lancashire town into a party zone. All manner of inflatables were taken for the End of Season Party. Whatever happened on the pitch and whatever the weather threw at them nothing was going to stop the fun.

Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 3rd May 2003

More than 5,000 travelling fans turned Blackburn's Ewood Park into a party zone with beach balls, inflatables of all descriptions, footballs and fancy dress as the order of the day. Some fans used the Men In Black theme to dress as referees whilst others chose to don suits and shades just like Will Smith in the movie. Whatever happened on the pitch, the Barmy Army were going to have a good time.

Gary Megson brought in Des Lyttle and James Chambers to defence for their first Premiership starts with Lee Hughes having to make do with a place on the bench despite being declared fit.

The Albion got off to a flying start and Jason Koumas almost fired the Baggies into a third minute lead after collecting the ball in the middle of the park and racing through the Rovers defence. He unleashed a thunderbolt left foot shot which keeper Brad Friedel did well to parry before being cleared by the Blackburn defence. Rovers hit back at the Baggies when Tugay tried a similar effort but the shot flew harmlessly wide of the goal.

With confidence brimming the Baggies pushed forward again and Andy Johnson found Neil Clement with a superb pass. The Baggies defender crossed in but Des Lyttle could only shoot wide. The home side found the tempo of the game and began to pressure the Baggies and their best effort came from a corner when Gary Flitcroft rose to meet David Dunn's in swinging kick. To the relief of the travelling support the ball went high over the bar.

Blackburn took the lead in the 12th minute when Ireland international Damian Duff raced clear of the Baggies defence to beat Russell Hoult with a fantastic finish. The goal seemed to shake the Baggies resolve and the home side applied more and more pressure.

Danny Dichio almost bought the sides level in the 20th minute with a powerful header but USA international keeper Friedel managed to keep the ball from the back of the net. Dichio was again unlucky minutes later when his header from a Lyttle cross went just over the Rovers crossbar. The Baggies were responding to the deafening support from the Barmy Army and began to push the Rovers defence back further and further.

Referee Rob Styles, no friend of the Baggies, had taken the barracking he received in the warm up well, stopping to read the banners on display and applauding the efforts of the Barmy Army. He reached into his pocket for the first card of the game just after the 30 minute mark, to book Andy Todd for wrestling Jason Roberts to the ground as he found a way through the defence. Accompanied by thousands of red cards from the stands Referee Styles deemed the offence only worthy of yellow.

Albion attacked again just minutes before the break when Clement sent over a wonderful cross for Roberts but lanky defender Martin Taylor beat the striker to the ball.

The party in the Darwen End continued through the break with spontaneous congas breaking out as the Baggies Away fans all sang 'Lets All Have A Disco' much to the amusement of the local Constabulary and Stewards. Blackburn fans watched in amazement as the now traditional End of Season shindig looked to be reaching its peak.

Albion could have been two down minutes after the restart when James McEveley crossed for Duff to head home. Despite being unmarked the Irishman could only send his effort well wide of the net much to the amusement of the travelling support. Jason Roberts had been causing problems all day for the Rovers defence and Taylor had been run ragged by the striker most of the afternoon. Taylor was lucky not to have found himself booked after hauling down Roberts after 50 minutes.

The Baggies support were sent into a Boing Boing frenzy on 55 minutes when Jason Koumas, the supporters club Player of the Year, picked up the ball in the centre circle and ran at the Rovers goal. He beat all challenges and sent a rocket shot flying towards goal which took a slight deflection and beat the diving keeper. The noise, which had been loud throughout the first half, reached deafening levels as the away support went mad. Boing Boing rang out followed by the Baggies traditional hymn 'The Lords My Shepard'.

Roberts could have been the cause of a series of mass heart attacks three minutes later when he raced onto a stunning through ball from Johnson. Roberts should have hit a first time shot, but decided to try and take the ball around the oncoming keeper. Friedel did brilliantly to block the shot for a corner.

Dwight Yorke had been on the receiving end of some merciless taunts from the Baggies fans when he was warming up, and when Graeme Souness sent the former Villa and man Utd striker on for Turkish international Hakan Sukar the taunts continued. Despite the abuse aimed at him, it is to Yorke's credit that he took it all in the nature that it was given and did not let the beaming smile on his face drop once.

Lyttle was forced into a crunching tackle minutes later when Flitcroft looked likely to nudge the hosts back into the lead after being put through by another former Man Utd star, Andy Cole. Lyttle needed treatment from Nick Worth, Baggies Physio, but was able to continue. Andy Cole and David Dunn wasted chances minutes later. First Cole looked certain to score but thanks to a superb block from Hoult as he raced off his line the Baggies keeper saved the day, but the loose ball fell to Dunn. His effort was wildly screwed and sailed harmlessly into the grateful away support.

Blackburn were beginning to look more and more dangerous coming forward and they had appeals for a penalty turned down when it appeared that the ball had struck Lyttle on the arm in the area. Referee Styles waved play on which earned him a round of cheers from the Darwen End.

Both side could have taken the three points late in the game. Blackburn had a chance wasted when Nils-Eric Johansson had his effort saved by Hoult and later Roberts beat off two challenges from defenders in the area but hit his shot wide of the goal. Duff almost snatched the victory on 87 minutes when he headed just over the Baggies crossbar.

Whistles rang out during the three minutes of added time from the away fans as Rovers pushed forward again but some superb defending from Ronnie Wallwork and Sean Gregan kept the danger at bay. Baggies fans began winding up their party by singing the Cheerio song to Blackburn fans, who had been almost silent throughout the game, and waving goodbye to the Premiership.

As the final whistle blew a cheer rose from the away fans and the players made their way over to thank the fans for the tremendous support, not only throughout the game, but all season. Derek McInnes was first to throw his shirt into the adoring fans followed by every other member of the squad. Gary Megson came across to applaud the fans along with the rest of his staff and he received a rousing rendition of 'Theres Only One Gary Megson'.

All in all it was a battling performance by the Baggies, possibly the best away display all season. The fight and spirit lacking in last weeks demolition by Liverpool was there in abundance as the Stars in Stripes went out with pride.

Albion legend Bob Taylor, a guest of Baggies Travel co-ordinator and Chairman of the Albion Supporters Club Dave Holloway, sat amongst the away support for the game and entered into the spirit of the occasion by wearing a referees shirt. SuperBob had travelled up on one of the coaches and after the game he was asked to nominate this weeks Man of the Match. Bob's vote went to Jason Koumas.

Team: Russell Hoult, Des Lyttle, Sean Gregan, Ronnie Wallwork, James Chambers, Jason Koumas, Derek McInnes, Andy Johnson, Neil Clement, Danny Dichio (83), Jason Roberts

Subs: Joe Murphy, Igor Balis, Lee Hughes, Ifeyani Udeze, Scot Dobie (83)