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Day: 18/30
Season: 2006/07
Fixture:Chelsea 2-1 Rovers – After Extra Time (15/4/07)
Highlights
Why Chosen
The 2006/07 season was the year of the Cups! The talented, but small, squad was asked to compete on three fronts. An early (merciful) exit in the League Cup 3rd Round against Chelsea avoided any further fixture congestion in a season which saw Rovers play an additional 15 games on top of the regular Premier League season, as runs to the UEFA Cup Round of 32 and the chosen FA Cup Semi Final stretched Mark Hughes’ men to the limit. This semi final will be a game no one, present or watching on television, will forget. Jose Mourinho’s all conquering Chelsea, then defending champions having won two Premier League titles in a row, faced a Rovers team full of heart and commitment. The writing seemed on the wall when Frank Lampard (10 career goals against Rovers) gave the Blues the lead after just 16 minutes. Though first half dominance from the favourites was flipped in the second period however as Rovers bombarded the Chelsea defence, as the goal at the East Stand lead a charmed life. Jason Roberts deflected in the equaliser, before the moment everyone I’m sure will remember. Morten Gamst Pedersen’s free header which swerved just wide of the far post. As my dad said at the time “I was halfway down Wembley Way then…” Rovers would actually come even closer as the clock struck 90 when John Terry’s deflected header needed a World Class save from (arguably the best keeper in the world at that moment) Petr Cech to send the game into Extra Time. Rovers hopes went with the final whistle as the men in red, exhuasted by their efforts, played for a chance in a shootout. But it wasn’t meant to be as Michael Ballack gave Chelsea the lead once more with 11 minutes remaining. The German international finally delivering the knockout blow against the plucky Rovers.
Aftermath
Chelsea would go on to face (and win – they completed a domestic double) Manchester United in the first FA Cup Final at the new Wembley Stadium. For all the pomp and ceremony of the two biggest teams at the time facing each other it was a turgid final decided in the final moments by a Drogba goal, as the pitch caused havoc and the teething problems of a new facility was visible to those watching at home. Who could forget our first introduction to the red seats by the tunnel?
Rovers would miss out on a trip to ‘The Home of Football’ and have missed out on several close occasions since. Enough time has passed that its not even referred to as ‘New’ Wembley anymore. The season was memorable for the cup exploits, though this fixture and the home tie against Bayer Leverkusen felt like opportunities missed. The league campaign ended in 10th position a place Rovers had held for most of the second half of the campaign.
Morten Gamst Pedersen managed to avoid this moment defining his Rovers career, though I have no doubt that every time the great Norwegian ventures back to Ewood Park (and that is often) that someone, somewhere asks him….”What about that header against Chelsea?”
Honourable Mentions
Rovers 2-0 Red Bull Salzburg (28/9/06) – A memorable European night at Ewood as a two crackers send Rovers into the group stage. The first a lovely spin and strike from Benni McCarthy, the second a dipping half volley from David Bentley.
Rovers 1-0 Liverpool (26/12/06) – The Mark Hughes era at its very best as a virtuoso display from Tugay gave Rovers a famous victory over the Reds. Steven Gerrard sent for a hot dog as the Turk fed Pedersen whose driven cross was turned home at the near post by McCarthy.
Rovers 1-0 Arsenal (28/2/07) – FA Cup 5th Round Replay at Ewood. Rovers held The Gunners to a 0-0 draw the week earlier at The Emirates and returned to Ewood for a replay full of industry but low on quality. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. With just four minutes remaining, substitute Benni McCarthy was sent clear down the left, the striker cut inside of Senderos and unleashed a fierce strike into the top corner past a diving Almunia to send Rovers in the 6th Round. The cup run had also seen Rovers demolish Everton 0-4 at Goodison in the 3rd Round and (to date) Rovers’ only victory in the town of Luton, also by a 0-4 scoreline in Round 4.