Live Commentary

Last Updated at 4:54 pm, January 17th 2010

1. Well done to Rovers for coming away with the points, but it was far from convincing at times. Thanks for joining me on today's commentary. I'll see you next time.

2. The game finishes 2-0 here at Ewood Park. It's a win for Blackburn!

3. 90+3

   Fulham try and launch one last attack but it peeters out.

4. 90+2

   Salgado pushes forward down the left to win the throw. Blackburn are frustrating Fulham by holding it in the corner flag.

5. 90+1

   The free-kick is claimed well down low by Schwarzer.

6. 90

   The game is winding down now as McCarthy and Hoilett hold the ball up really well. Gera then catches Hoilett - yellow card. Three minutes stoppage time here.

7. 89

   Rovers break with real pace and purpose through Hoilett and he tries to play in Kalinic, but the ball is slightly behind the striker and it rolls away from him.

8. 88

   McCarthy runs up and curls the free-kick towards the top corner, but he doesn't get enough dip on it and it flies over.

9. 87

   Kalinic is fouled by Baird on the edge of the area - dangerous free-kick for Rovers now.

10. 86

    Nevland loses the ball and in his attempt to win it back he brings down Salgado.

11. 85

    This game looks done and dusted now. Fulham have played well but have just come up short in the crucial moments. FIve minutes to go.

12. 84

    Olsson drives the ball in low but the defender is there to smack it away this time.

13. 83

    Salgado comes on for Emerton.

14. 82

    McCarthy uses trickery to get away from Chris Baird and the defender is shown the yellow card.

15. 81

    Duff puts in another ball from the left - he's been Fulham's best player but this time the cross is just a little too high.

16. 80

    McCarthy tracks back well to take the ball off Danny Murphy. The South African has been my man of the match this afternoon.

17. 79

    Johnson still looks out of touch in my opinion. Duff puts in a ball and Nelsen has to prod it out for a corner.

18. 77

    Wasted chance for Johnson! Kallio put in a great ball from the left and Robinson came out to juggle with the ball like a jester! It fell to the Fulham striker but his shot on the turn was blocked, going wide anyway.

19. 76

    Quick thinking from Murphy to feed in Johnson from the set piece, but the defender followed the run and put the ball out for a throw.

20. 75

    Fulham are turning the screw now but is it too little too late? Samba brings down Duff midway inside the Blackburn half, free-kick.

21. 74

    Surely a penalty to Fulham! Nevland broke into the Rovers box and Samba tugged his shirt, but referee Kevin Friend gives nothing. Danny Murphy is furious.

22. 73

    Great play from Hoilett down the Rovers left as he showed pace to get to the by-line and chip a ball in to the backpost.

23. 72

    Nearly an own goal from Nelsen! Gera whipped in a fierce low cross with pace from the right but the defender just got a touch on it and Robinson had to claim it above his head.

24. 71

    Reid makes way for Keith Andrews.

25. 70

    Blackburn try and launch a quick break through Emerton and the Aussie surges forward, only to waste possession and then handball.

26. 69

    Gera has en effort saved by Robinson! A corner came all the way across from the left and the Hungarian let fly on the half-volley, but it was straight at the goalkeeper.

27. 68

    Great interception from Samba! Duff tried to slide in the striker but the big centre-half swept in with an excellent sliding tackle.

28. 67

    McCarthy takes a short corner to Reid who has a shot from the left edge of the area, but he blazes it well over.

29. 66

    Hangeland concedes a needless corner and Rovers probe for the third as the Ewood crowd lifts the volume.

30. 65

    Kalinic runs shoulder to shoulder with Hughes and holds it up well, the cross then comes in from Hoilett and for a minute Schwarzer looked stranded, but it's headed clear.

31. 64

    Reports from the tunnel are that it is a knee injury for Dempsey.

32. 63

    Dempsey comes off for Erik Nevland

33. 62

    Dempsey has gone down and he looks in pain, he's signalling to the bench.

34. 61

    That second goal has really rocked Fulham - I think Roy Hodgson should consider a change soon.

35. 60

    Kelly takes no chances and hoofs the ball clear with Kalinic ready to pounce.

36. 59

    Givet makes way for attacking player Hoilett. Olsson should drop to left-back now.

37. 58

    Duff puts a great ball into the box but it beats absolutely everyone!

38. 57

    Can Fulham try and respond? After that spell of pressure at the beginning of the half, they have been hit with the suckerpunch of conceding. Kelly comes down the right and wins a corner though.

39. 56

    Credit to McCarthy for a lovely ball in - he's had a hand in both goals.

40. 55

    A goal completely against the run of play! Blackburn somehow lead this game 2-0 and Roy Hodgson must be fuming.

41. 54

    GOAL - NELSEN! McCarthy crossed from the free-kick and the Rovers captain headed past the helpless Schwarzer.

42. 53

    Olsson drives forward down the left and Kelly brings him down. Free-kick.

43. 52

    Nelsen eases the ball away after Duff crossed from out wide. It's constant pressure at the moment and Blackburn need some ideas.

44. 51

    Dempsey and Johnson link up well and Samba has to clear for a throw. All the football is being played in the Rovers half at the moment.

45. 50

    Rovers are nine games without a win in the Premier League.. are they going to claim one today?

46. 49

    Fulham need to up the tempo if they are going to find a breakthrough. Kalinic nearly latches onto a poor header back from Hughes but Schwarzer claims.

47. 48

    The ball falls to Givet on the edge of the area, he has a shot but it is blocked and cleared. Fulham launch a quick counter and Johnson crosses for Dempsey, but his header across goal is cleared.

48. 47

    Rovers press at the start of the half and Givet wins a corner off Kelly down the left.

49. 47

    So Konchesky was unable to continue... how will Kallio do at left-back?

50. 46

    The game restarts after the break.

51. I think the result it the most important thing today Ian. Fulham make a sub at half time - Kallio comes on for Konchesky.

52. Ian says: "Disappointed to hear we aren't playing well. I think Sam has drained the confidence of the players with his negative approach to the game. Still going to win 2-1. Blue and white army!!"

53. How do you think the second half will progress? Get in touch and share your views.

54. Blackburn don't really deserve to be in front but Sam Allardyce won't give a monkeys. How Clint Dempsey hasn't scored I'll never know - 1-0 at the break.

55. The referee blows for half time.

56. 45+3

    Dempsey picks up the ball midway inside the Blackburn half, he turns and has a shot which flies wide.

57. 45+2

    The Ewood faithful are getting frustrated with referee Kevin Friend, who penalises Rovers again for a foul.

58. 45+1

    Rovers are looking more composed now and they come forward - but Olsson is penalised after jumping with Kelly.

59. 45

    Three minutes added time to be played.

60. 45

    Konchesky is struggling out there - he is praying for the half-time whistle.

61. 44

    Snap shot from Martin Olsson! A long ball forward and Olsson gets to it first, only for his effort to go straight at Schwarzer.

62. 42

    Konchesky looks in pain after a challenge from Reid. This break in play will help Rovers as Sam Allardyce's side aim to wind these last few minutes down.

63. 41

    Can Blackburn hang on till half-time? Duff is causing problems but the Cottagers are being patient.

64. 40

    Rovers have some respite with a goal-kick. I don't know how Dempsey hasn't scored in this one - he's been so unlucky.

65. 39

    Blackburn can't get out of their own half a the moment. Constant pressure from Fulham.

66. 38

    Another great chance for Dempsey! He turned with great touch and unleashed a shot from close range, saved by Robinson!

67. 37

    Kelly wins a corner on the right - Fulham on top.

68. 36

    Duff has a shot palmed away by Robinson! The Irishman drove the ball at goal and the keeper kept it out.

69. 35

    Dempsey hits the bar with a sublime overhead kick! The cross came in and the American lept like a salmon... Robinson was beaten all ends up, so unlucky!

70. 34

    McCarthy is penalised for a foul on Konchesky on the left inside the Rovers half. Chance for a ball in now.

71. 33

    At the other end Hughes gets a vital foot in! The ball was played over the top for Kalinic and Hughes managed to nick it away at the last second.

72. 32

    Fulham are pressing now, with Danny Murphy pulling the strings. Hangeland feeds in Andy Johnson but the striker fires over the bar... poor effort.

73. 31

    From the resulting corner Baird heads just wide! Duff whipped a cross in and the Northern Ireland international glanced an effort past the post.

74. 30

    Murphy gets to the by-line well and chips in a cross under the posts, which Reid heads clear.

75. 29

    Looking at a replay of the goal - McCarthy's cross should have been dealt with by Danny Murphy on the front post, but his clearance was poor.

76. 28

    Samba is booked for a pretty cynical challenge on Andy Johnson.

77. 27

    Can the Cottagers respond? They try and launch forward but Rovers clear up.

78. 26

    That was a poor goal from a Fulham point of view, but Blackburn won't care.

79. 25

    GOAL - SAMBA! From the resulting corner, the cross came in to the near post and the clearance fell straight for Samba who poked home!

80. 24

    Great effort from McCarthy! The South African controlled a long ball forward beautifully and unleashed a stinging shot but Schwarzer saved!

81. 23

    Emerton comes forward but can't get to the ball first to get his cross in - good tackle from Chris Baird.

82. 22

    Pressure from Fulham but Johnson is offside once more. Gera was twisting and turning on the edge of the area but Johnson just strayed past the last man.

83. 21

    Hangeland makes a hash of a clearance and slices it high in the air - he hasn't been convincing so far - he might still be suffering from his injury.

84. 20

    This game is really scrappy at the moment. There's no quality from either side.

85. 19

    Kalinic battles with Kelly inside the Fulham box and the defender just manages to win the ball and shrug the striker off.

86. 18

    Chance for Dempsey! The ball was crossed by Kelly on the right and the American beat Samba in the air to get a header on target... straight at Robinson.

87. 17

    Schwarzer comes out and flaps at a ball put into the box... the ball nearly falls to a Blackburn player but it is smacked clear by Fulham.

88. 16

    Nzonzi goes in with a really bad challenge on Zoltan Gera - the referee doesn't spot it but that could have been really nasty.

89. 15

    Schwarzer slices a clearance with the ball bobbling all over the place. The cross then comes in from the left and Kalinic nearly gets his head on it, but he is penalised for a foul on Hangeland.

90. 14

    Fulham are putting a bit of pressure on now, but Andy Johnson is just offside.

91. 13

    Dempsey crashes the free-kick against the wall and the ball then breaks to Danny Murphy, who chips the ball over the top only for it to run out of play.

92. 12

    Reid fells Duff with a late challenge - a bit of rust from the midfielder and a dangerous free-kick for Fulham now.

93. 11

    Duff puts a good cross in from the right but Blackburn clear with a solid header. Fulham may need to attack on the ground with the physical presence of Rovers' defence.

94. Paddy Murphy says: "Dear James, this match has 0-0 written all over it. But then I predicted that score with Chelsea yesterday and it was 7-2."

95. 10

    Neither side is playing particularly great football at the moment, with both defences on top.

96. 9

    Dempsey tries to break through on goal but gets in a tussle with Nelsen. The American is penalised for a foul on the defender.

97. Fulham fan Greg says: "i think fulham will bag a few 2day even without zamora.. dempsey and AJ up front will suit us better and i predict 3-1 as i can't see a clean sheet! roy the boy hodgson is as good as ferguson, wenger and better than harry redknapp."

98. 7

    Reid launches a long throw in but Schwarzer claims easily. Fulham try and launch an attack and Dempsey links up with Johnson, only for the third pass to be intercepted.

99. 6

    Emerton wastes possession trying to feed in Chimbonda when there was a simpler pass on. But it's all Blackburn early on.

100. 5

     At the other end Dempsey drills a shot but Nelsen blocks it well from point blank range.

101. 4

     Early pressure from Rovers here. Givet launches a throw into the box which McCarthy does brilliantly to control and turn with. The South African weaves into the box but it runs out for a goal kick.

102. 3

     Robinson launches it forward and McCarthy wins the flick on but Fulham manage to clear the ball away.

103. 2

     Damien Duff will want to prove a point against his old side today, as Fulham get some early possession.

104. 1

     Rovers launch an early ball forward as both teams try and settle into the game.

105. 1

     The game kicks off in Lancashire.

106. Tomer says: "I think Benni McCarthy will open the scoring but i think clint dempsey will bag two goals to win it for fulham despite their poor away form, but i also think this might change if david dunn comes on because he is an excellent player."

107. I was reporting on Rovers' defeat to Man City last Monday and I was inundated with emails from angry Blackburn fans, unhappy with manager Allardyce. Will Big Sam outwit Roy Hodgson this afternoon?

108. Ian has got in touch to give some backing to under-pressure manager Sam Allardyce: "At last Sam has listened to the fans and is playing two up front. I think we will get a good win today. Cmon rovers."

109. The teams are in the tunnel and we are five minutes away from kick-off here.

110. I'm going for a narrow away win. Blackburn have been miserable of late and I think Fulham will nick this one.

111. Come on Blackburn and Fulham fans - how do you think your side will do today?

112. Bidding to bounce back from their recent setback at Stoke, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson replaces absentee Bobby Zamora with Clint Dempsey, while Brede Hangeland is fit to keep his place at the back.

113. Fancy a bet? Rovers are priced at 13/10 for this one, the draw is 9/4 and an away win is 21/10.

114. The referee today is Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

115. Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Baird, Murphy, Gera, Johnson, Dempsey. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Smalling, Greening, Kallio, Dikgacoi.

116. Blackburn: Robinson, Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet, Emerton, Nzonzi, Reid, Olsson, Kalinic, McCarthy. Subs: Brown, Andrews, Hoilett, Di Santo, Salgado, Dunn, Rigters.

117. Who do you think will come out on top? Get in touch and share your views by emailing james.riach@bskyb.com

118. This is an interesting one at Ewood Park and could go either way. Blackburn are not on the best run but Fulham are not great away from home.

119. Hi there and welcome to our live text commentary of Blackburn against Fulham in the Premier League.

120. Live updates will appear here from 1500 GMT.