Michael Chopra grabbed the first league goal at the new Cardiff City Stadium today to help his side to a comfortable 4-0 win over promoted Scunthorpe.

Birmingham remain at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship after a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Gavin Rae has refused to give up on Cardiff’s play-off hopes despite tonight’s trip to Wolves being a “must-win” clash.

Cardiff 2 Wolves 0

Leeds 2 Preston 1

England coach Steve McClaren is happy for his players to use the misery of defeat in Croatia as extra motivation for their return to Euro 2008 duty in Israel this weekend.

England coach Steve McClaren has called Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry into his squad for the Euro 2008 double header with Israel and Andorra.

FORMER Sunderland and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb has stepped in to save the award-winning Golf Punk magazine from closure, taking control of the publication through his company, JF Media.

LUCAS NEILL turned the jeers to cheers as he scored a dramatic late winner for Blackburn in last night’s vital UEFA Cup match. The Australia defender came under fire from a section of the home support at the weekend in the defeat by Newcastle.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has made six changes to the side that lost to Newcastle for tonight’s UEFA Cup game at Ewood Park.

Blackburn 1 Newcastle 3

Blackburn 2 Fulham 0

MARK HUGHES is calling on his players to rise to the challenge in Rotterdam tonight — just as he did 15 years ago.

Blackburn’s Tugay and Tottenham’s Hossam Ghaly have had their claims for wrongful dismissal rejected by an independent disciplinary commission, the Football Association have announced.

Blackburn and Tottenham have both appealed against the red cards issued by referee Phil Dowd during yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.

Mark Hughes believes video replays should be introduced as a matter of priority in the Barclays Premiership.

Robbie Savage returned to the Blackburn team ahead of schedule for this Barclays Premiership game at Ewood Park.

Aston Villa 2 Blackburn 0

A spokesman for Wayne Rooney insists he has “total respect” for England fans despite confirmation last night that he had been involved in an altercation with a fan as Steve McClaren’s team left Zagreb following the 2-0 defeat to Croatia.

England’s bad night in Croatia has been made worse following confirmation Wayne Rooney was involved in an altercation with a fan as Steve McClaren’s team left the stadium following last night’s 2-0 defeat.

Wayne Rooney was involved in an altercation with fellow Premiership star Michael Gray in a plush Manchester restaurant on Saturday night.

Michael Ballack will make his Premiership debut for Chelsea at Ewood Park today, as will Khalid Boulahrouz.

Michael Gray has signed a new two-year deal to stay at Blackburn until 2008.

Blackburn 1 Chelsea 0

Blackburn 1 Chelsea 0

Birmingham midfielder Julian Gray returned to the starting line-up for the first time since early March for the strugglers’ crunch Premiership encounter with European hopefuls Blackburn at St Andrews.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes looks set to name an unchanged line-up for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership game with Middlesbrough at Ewood Park.

Blackburn 2 Sunderland 0

Blackburn 2 Sunderland 0

Everton 1 Blackburn 0

West Brom 2 Blackburn 0

Manchester United survived a Blackburn fightback, a missed penalty and a half-time tunnel scrap to book a Carling Cup final meeting with Wigan.

Man Utd 2 Blackburn 1 (3-2 on aggr.)

Blackburn 0 Bolton 0

Michael Gray has reasons to be cheerful when the Carling Cup comes around.

Blackburn 3 West Ham 2

Blackburn 0 Everton 2

On the day that football celebrated the gifts of George Best, it was perhaps fitting that Thierry Henry should prove that artistry is still at the heart of the modern-day game.

Manchester City 0 Blackburn 0

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes will not call on his two Australian players Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton for tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership match at Manchester City.

Blackburn 4 Charlton 1

Blackburn 2 Birmingham 0

Man Utd 1 Blackburn 2

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes expects Manchester United to return stronger from their crushing Premiership defeat at Old Trafford this afternoon.