Football: Blackburn relegated from Premier League
Rovers’ 1-0 loss to Wigan ends team’s 11-year stay in top flight.
LONDON:
Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the English Premier League with a match to spare after a 1-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday.
In a game they had to win to prolong their 11-year stay in the top flight, Blackburn were unable to find a way through Wigan’s defence. Wigan, for whom victory secured their Premier League survival, scored through Antolin Alcaraz’s header three minutes from time.
Defeat capped a difficult season for Blackburn, whose manager Steve Kean has faced repeated calls to quit the club. Fans have also protested against the involvement of Blackburn owners’ Venky’s, an Indian-based poultry firm, in the running of the club.
“We are devastated, the players are numb,” Kean told Sky Sports. “. The lads gave us everything. It’s a massive setback but we have to regroup and keep as many of our players as we can. We’ll be back to fight another day.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2012.
Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the English Premier League with a match to spare after a 1-0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday.
In a game they had to win to prolong their 11-year stay in the top flight, Blackburn were unable to find a way through Wigan’s defence. Wigan, for whom victory secured their Premier League survival, scored through Antolin Alcaraz’s header three minutes from time.
Defeat capped a difficult season for Blackburn, whose manager Steve Kean has faced repeated calls to quit the club. Fans have also protested against the involvement of Blackburn owners’ Venky’s, an Indian-based poultry firm, in the running of the club.
“We are devastated, the players are numb,” Kean told Sky Sports. “. The lads gave us everything. It’s a massive setback but we have to regroup and keep as many of our players as we can. We’ll be back to fight another day.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2012.