Rams Exit Cup With A Whimper

Derby County were dumped out of the FA Cup in the Fourth Round by Blackburn Rovers who easily won 3-0 on a disappointing afternoon at Pride Park. The game was one of few chances although those that did come were mainly to the Lancashire side and they took advantage with some clinical finishing. Colin Kazim-Richards but the visitors ahead on the stroke of halftime after outmuscling Richard Keogh and two goals in five second half minutes, the first a superb twenty yard finish from Scott Dann handed Rovers the tie.

Blackburn opened the game brightly and Scott Dann headed wide with the goal at his mercy on six minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen picked him out with a freekick. The sides were effectively cancelling each other out and Jamie Ward had an effort from the edge of the area blocked before it could trouble Jake Kean in the visitor`s goal. Chances were at a premium but Adam Legzdins was forced into a save with twenty-five minutes gone when another set piece from Pedersen saw him called into action. Will Hughes had a shot from 25 yards blocked with the ball spinning through to Kean and Blackburn took the lead just before halftime when Colin Kazim-Richards fought his way passed Richard Keogh and kept his composure to find the net and put his side ahead.

The game continued in the same vein after the break, Mark O`Brien had a header easily held by Kean in a rare threatening moment from The Rams and Legzdins clawed away an effort from Markus Olsson after the winger hit an effort into the turf that spun up and looked to be heading in. With just under twenty-five minutes to go Blackburn put the result beyond any doubt when Danny Murphy picked out Dann and he took a touch on his chest before finding the roof of the net from twenty yards. Derby`s misery was complete five minutes later when Jordan Rhodes got on the end of a touch from Olsson before lifting his finish over Legzdins to put his side into the Fifth Round.

Derby County: Legzdins; Brayford, Keogh, O'Brien (O`Connor 82), Roberts; Coutts, Hendrick, Hughes (Davies 74), Bryson; Ward (Jacobs 73), Sammon.

Subs Not Used: Fielding, Freeman, Bennett, Doyle.

Blackburn Rovers: Kean; Lowe, Dann, Hanley, M. Olsson; M. Olsson (Dunn 82), Pedersen, Murphy; King (Rochina 10), Rhodes, Kazim-Richards.

Subs Not Used: Usai, Givet, Nunes, Gomes, Goodwille.

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