BLACKBURN ROVERS 2-2 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS
TEAM
Marshall, Fox, Ward, Beuzelin (Best 52),Doyle, McPake (Dann 46),Eastwood, Osbourne, Gunnarsson, Henderson, Morrison SNU Hall, Simpson,Thornton, Cain, Westwood
Blackburn
Robinson,Simpson,Samba,Khizanivelli, Givet,Villaneuve,Dunn (Tracey 70),Warnock,Santa Cruz,Tugay (Andrews 65),Roberts (McCarthy 77) SNU Bunn, Grella,Doran,Nelsen
HT BRFC 1-0 CCFC FT BRFC 2-2 CCFC
Att 15,053
Goals Roque Santa Cruz (2), Aron Gunnarsson (60). Michael Doyle (75), Chris Samba (90+2)
Ref S.Tanner Booked Samba,Beuzelin,Best,Khizanishvili,Eastwood
Man Of The Match Aron Gunnarsson took the votes.
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STARTING LINE UP
Chris Coleman had to make a late change when Keiren Westwood got taken ill and Andy Marshall took over in goal. There was no Ben Turner so Elliott Ward returned as did Freddie Eastwood.
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce, who was harshly treated during his time at Highfield Road, fielded Stephen Warnock in a strongish Rovers starting team.
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CITY SUPPORT
Close to 5,000 City supporters made the trip to Ewood Park. Any pub admitting City fans did a roaring trade including the Fernhurst across the road from the ground. The City support was exceedingly vocal and the outbreaks of joy after the goals were a sight to behold.
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Coventry City were stopped from booking a place in the FA Cup Sixth Round by a heart breaking late,late equaliser as Blackburn came back to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Things had not started well for the Sky Blues and their 5,000 strong band of supporters, when last week's hero Keiren Westwood was pulled out at the last minute and his replacement Andy Marshall had let a goal in within 87 seconds of the first whistle of referee Steve Tanner.
Blackburn attacked the end where the Sky Blue Army were housed and a cross from the right picked out Roque Santa Cruz. It was easy to see why the Premier League side had battled to fight off the attentions of mega bucks Manchester City for his services as he drove the ball across the face of the goal and into the bottom corner of the net.
Playing a 4-5-1 formation with Freddie Eastwood having to play as a left winger against a Blackburn side far stronger than in our 4-1 victory last season, City had to defend vigourously in the first half. Carlos Villanueva, caused a number of problems with the fleetiness of his feet. A cross in the 18th minute found Jason Roberts in the same position but thankfully the former Wigan man's volley went wide.
Ward made another good block before a 31st minute free kick from Danny Fox was sent wide by Gunarsson and was a chance felt by many of the City supporters who stared into the grey sky, that should have been put into the back of the net.
Before the end of the half, Santa Cruz had two good efforts and we went into the break happy only to be a goal down.
The talk at half-time was of the need for change and Chris Coleman made it. James McPake who had not done too badly made way for Scott Dann, who had avoided playing against Aston Villa's John Carew in a reserve team friendly on Tuesday. Then seven minutes into the second half, Guilly Beuzelin who had been cautioned was replaced by Leon Best.
A big cheer greeted the striker who had scored in the aforementioned reserve friendly and City switched to 4-3-3. Now, it was the turn of the Sky Blues to take over the dominant role and with the City supporters in full voice, the City players responded.
Aron Gunnarsson won two corners with his persistence. Then on the hour mark, he carved his way towards the penalty area and stuck it on his right and let rip. Paul Robinson might be a former England keeper but there was no way that he was going to get anywhere near this Icelandic exocet missle as it nearly broke the net with its ferocity.
To say the City supporters went mad is a gross understatement. This was celebrations not seen for a while. Some were chucked out for diving on the pitch and there was hugging, kissing and diving on people aplenty before we breathed a collective sigh of relief as Blackburn had the ball in the net in the 67th minute, only for it to be ruled out for a decision that I couldn't see.
Then, there was laughter as a male wearing only white boxer shorts complete with archers bow and roses in his hand raced onto the field of play from the stand to our right. He danced around before four green suited staff bundled him into the arms of a waiting policeman.
With fifteen minutes to go, the pandemonium in the away end reached cataclismic proportions as Michael Doyle gave City the lead. The Irishman got a through ball on the left and hit a left footed shot. It took a deflection off Samba and went over Robinson's head and into the net. More got ejected for their nature of their raucous celebrations which had the police and stewards scuttling around.
Sam Allardyce,who with his side third in the Premier League sent on Benny McCarthy. Rovers were now playing four up front but City kept attacking. An 85th minute Fox free was swept into the side netting by Morrison and two minutes later, Eastwood found himself in the position that Santa Cruz was when he scored. The Welsh international got the ball on the edge of the box but his shot with the outside of his boot went across the goal and agonisingly out for a goal kick.
Still, we sang as two City corners snuffed out. Then up popped the board of the fourth official to show a staggering five minutes of added time. We look around at each other in amazement. I made it four minutes by my watch.
The ten thousand home fans took this as their queue to get behind their team. They briefly raised their noise and in the second minute, Blackburn attacked. Andy Marshall let a low drive from Tracey hit his chest rather than get his hands on it and the loose ball fell to Chris Samba who was able to turn and bundle the ball into the net and give Blackburn a replay that they will count themselves lucky to have got.
We stood gutted but proud that we were still in the FA Cup and living to fight another day.
See the goals here
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/2092169/