Blackburn win in India but fans back home plan another protest
Page last updated at 19:20 GMT, Friday, 7 October 2011 20:20 UK
Fans and officials welcomed Steve Kean and his team on their arrival in India
Blackburn Rovers became the first Premier League side to play in India - but back in England fans plan a fresh protest against manager Steve Kean.
The club, on a tour of their owner's homeland, beat Pune FC 3-0 on Friday.But the supporters who organised a protest march last month are planning another demonstration.
They have announced a march for Sunday 23 October before the Tottenham game at Ewood Park, followed by a sit-in protest after the match.
BLACKBURN'S PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS SO FAR
Continue reading the main story- v Wolves (h) - L 2-1
- v Aston Villa (a) - L 3-1
- v Everton (h) - L 1-0
- v Fulham (a) - D 1-1
- v Arsenal (h) - W 4-3
- v Newcastle (a) - L 3-1
- v Man City (h) - L 4-0
A 'Kean out' banner which appeared in the stands in the first half was removed by organisers.
After the game Kean said his team would take a lot of positives from the trip and suggested it could become an annual event at the end of every season.
During the visit Rovers' owners, the family behind poultry and pharmaceutical firm Venky's, have given Kean their backing, describing him as a "brilliant manager".
But back in England disgruntled fans are stepping up their calls for Kean to be sacked with the team second from bottom of the Premier League after five defeats in seven games.
KEAN'S ROVERS RECORD
Continue reading the main story Played: 32Won: 9
Drawn: 8
Lost: 15
"The numbers are expected to be much larger than the previous march as more and more supporters have joined the protest campaign."
Blackburn play Queen's Park Rangers away on 15 October before the Tottenham game.
Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England
Rooney lashes out on Dzudovic to receive his marching orders
England secured their
place at Euro 2012 with a scrambled draw in Montenegro - but Wayne
Rooney was sent off and will miss the start of the tournament.
Fabio Capello insisted Rooney was in the right frame of mind to play in stormy Podgorica despite his father's arrest on Thursday
in a probe into alleged betting irregularities, but his flash of temper
- when he kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic - suggested otherwise.England's path to Poland and Ukraine next summer looked to be a smooth one as goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent gave them a comfortable lead after 31 minutes.
Elsad Zverotic gave Montenegro hope with a goal with the last kick of the first half - and when Rooney was deservedly shown red by referee Wolfgang Stark, England were placed under pressure they could not survive.
Just as the clash entered stoppage time Dzudovic crossed for Andrija Delibasic to head in at the far post for a goal that gave Montenegro the point that puts them into next month's qualifying play-offs.
Rooney's sending off will be the main talking point, however, and his actions once again raise questions about his temperament that he looked to have gone a long way towards answering in recent times.
EURO 2012 GROUP G
Continue reading the main story| P | W | D | L | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| Montenegro | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Switzerland | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Wales | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Bulgaria | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
England and Capello can now make plans for Euro 2012, but they will be without Rooney for at least the opening group match and perhaps more should Uefa decide to increase his suspension.
Capello warned his players that caution was not an option as they went in search of the result that would take England to Euro 2012. And his message was carried out to the letter in the opening exchanges as England played with a tempo and threat Montenegro struggled to subdue.
Theo Walcott's final pass has often drawn criticism but there could be no complaint in the 11th minute when his perfect delivery to the far post only required a stoop and a nod of the head from Young to put England ahead.
KEY MATCH STATS
Continue reading the main story- England gave away a two-goal lead for the first time since Sep 2004
- This was England's 900th international. They have won 510, drawn 218 and lost 172
- Wayne Rooney joins David Beckham as the only England players to have received two reds
Bent was again left with the simplest of finishes when Rooney picked out Young and he unselfishly crossed for Bent to tap in from inside the six-yard area.
Even then the perfectionist Capello was not happy, almost dancing in his technical area in fury when Gareth Barry wasted possession, constantly urging England to maintain the tempo that saw them take such a measure of command.
Just as a satisfactory 45 minutes looked to be drawing to a close without further incident, England conceded a sloppy goal with the last act of the half. Fatos Beciraj was allowed time and space to find Zverotic, whose shot took a crucial deflection off Gary Cahill's boot and out of Joe Hart's reach.
In a single moment Montenegro and their supporters were given fresh impetus and encouragement. Beciraj tested Hart with a low shot before teenager Phil Jones, on his England debut, suffered an anxious moment when Stevan Jovetic went down under his challenge, leaving the youngster clearly relieved to see referee Stark wave away Montenegro's appeals.
Capello shrugs off Rooney's 'silly mistake'
Capello made a change on the hour which was presumably enforced
by injury as the excellent Young was replaced by Stewart Downing. And
four minutes later Bent went off to allow Frank Lampard to come on and
restore England's earlier midfield superiority.As England attempted to steady the ship, the Rooney flashpoint occurred 17 minutes from time. He was involved in little more than a routine battle for possession near the touchline before lashing out at Dzudovic.
Dzudovic made the most of the offence but Rooney could have no complaints when he was shown a red card.
The final twist came with that late equaliser. The final whistle brought celebrations from both sets of fans - but utter dejection for the tormented Rooney.
